MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1918, Page 8

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

VISIT TO NEW PLYMOUTH. DEPUTATION RE HIGH SCHOOL MATTERS. The Minister of Railways (Hon. W. H. Herrics) arrived in New Plymouth by last night's mail train. At 11.30 he was waited on by a deputation from the Board of Governors of the New Plymouth High Schools and the citizens' eommittec'iuterested in the rebuilding of the boys' school. The deputation was introduced by Mr. 11. .T. Okey, M.P., and consisted of Messrs. D. Hutchen (chairman of the board), R. W. D. Robertson and S. G. Smith (members of the board), P. J. H. White (number of the Education Board), A. H. Johnstone, J. Clarke, .T. McLeod, J. E. Wilson, H. R. Billing, T. C. List and G. Fraser (members of the citizens' committee).

Mr. Johnstone, who actfd as spokesman, said the deputation was well aware that the matters they desired to bring under the notice of the Minister were not related to any of his departments. As a member of the Cabinet, however, he would be familiar with matters connected with the Iscw Plymouth High School that had already been before them. It was known that' some two years or more ago the boys' school bad been burned' down. The board had received in insurance a sum of about £3500, and after negotiations the Education Department had agreed to grant a subsidy of £SOOO for rebuilding purposes. The sum thus available, however, was altogether insufficient to rebuild the school properly, and the citizens were anxious to have the school placed on a proper and firm basis. It was of the utmost importance that this school should have as good provision made for carrying on its worlc as was made for schools in other .parts of the Dominion. Up to the present that had not been done. Until a few years ago the school had been a mixed school for girls and boys, but so rapid had been the development of the schools that today, in the boys' department alone, there were 270 puplis. The record of the school was well known. In military matters, it had won the Schools of Umpire Shield on more than one occasion. Bir lan Hamilton, who had visited the school, took particular occasion to refer publicly to the fine type of boys associated with it. The hoard was unable to carry on as efficiently-at present as it desired, and that view was shared by the community. When it was found that the limit of tht Government assistance ; was to be £SOOO, a citizens' committee was set up, nml if was decided to canI vass the district for subscriptions.' Already something over £IOOO had been promised, which was eloquent of the idea of the people of. the district rf the value of the school. What the deputation wished to ask for was that tlie Government should subsidise, at the rate of £ for £, all public subscriptions to the building fund. In reply to a question by Mr. Herries, Mr. Johnstone said they asked for that in addition to the £SOOO already promised.

Continuing, Mr. Johnstone said that with the money already in sight it would bo possible to provide only the barest necessities for the school. The board and the committee of citizens were of opinion that for a boarding school an assembly hall was an integral part of the establishment, and such a hall could not be built with the amount at present available. It was felt that imieh was due to the present generation of boys, who would have a heavier burden to bear in carry tog on the affairs of the country in the future than any other generation. It might be said that they would have to bold what the present generation of men •were winning- He urged that education should be considered as a war measure, as it was in England. If the Governpromised additional assistance it would be an incentive to the people of the district to give more liberally,, and whatever they gave would, in fact, ultimately be handed over to the Government. Mr. Johnstone incidentally referred to the subsidies granted to local bodies for public works, which were received by right of law. He emphasised that it was a paramount duty to make the school as complete and efficient as possible, in view of present and future needs. lie also urged that it would be infinitely better to have the whole school building completed now rather than to delay some portion? of it. It was his belief that if part of the Wilding was

left to be completed at. ii later dan; there was a danger of very little more being (lone, and he instanced the case of Victoria College, Wellington, which had had nothing done to the building since 1004, when only a portion of the premises had been erected. He said, the claim:; of the school were not new; they were known before the war. He knew that the war was being urged as a reason against the spending of public money in such matters, but he felt there were other .directions in which economies could be effected, without reducing votes for educational purpose*. He concluded by expressing a hope that (lie Minister would lend the weight of his influence and vote in Cabinet to securing for the school as large a grant as passible. Mr. P. J. White submitted plans of the proposed building, both with and without the assembly hall, to the Minister, the estimated cost of the complete scheme being .■Ciis"'!!). It was staled that New Plymouth would probably raise a sum of about .C.XW). * ilr. I). Hiucheu said Ilia school had about l-'lfl boarders, arid the pre cut accommodation was overtaxed, and the principal hail been obliged to refuse applications for admission. In reply to the .Minister, Mr. Huiclieu said the board piv.vidcd for the upkeep of the hoarding e.-tabllshiiKViit, and there was no tlovernment subsidy on that money. Continuing, Mr. jTtnciic:i said the deputation was coiilident that the school merited the support of the Government. He hoped the Minister would consult with his colleagues, and especially with Sir James Allen, win; was, perhaps, more conversant with the condi'.ion of the school than any other members of the Cabinet, and that he would do what he could to assist them to put the school on ii footing to adequately supply the needs of the community. Mr. T. 0. List pointed out that the New Plymouth High School was the secondary school for the whole of Taranaki. There wore a large number of boarders, and many of these came from ■South Taranaki, and that part of the district was just a's interested in the school as the people, of New Plymouth. Tho Minister, in his reply, said the matter had been before Cabinet for some time, but no decision had been come to as to the extra amount of subsidy being asked for. He would go into the matter witn the Hon. Mr. Hanan (Minister of ICducalion), but it greatly depended on the finance of the Dominion, and would have to be thrashed out by Cabinet. He appreciated tiie arguments set out by the deputation, and was sure Cabinet was sympathetic with educa!ionr.l mailers. He undertook to consult Mr. Hanan and ■Sir .lames Allen, and to do what he could when the matter was being further considered by Cabinet. The deputation thanked the Minister, and then withdrew. TO-DAY'S MOVEMENTS. This morning the Minister will meet deputations from (ho New Plymouth Boron;;h Council, in relation to the acquiring by the borough of a railway reserve situated westward of, and adjoining, Kawnroa Park; and from the natives relating (o their burying ground at Moturoa. A deputation of representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and citizens generally will be received by the Minister at 11 o'clock, at the Soldiers' Club, to urge certain matters in connection with railway management, and charges between the breakwater and town. This afternoon the Minister will meet the directors of the Smart Road freezing works on their premises nt Smart Road. Mr. Herries leaves for Auckland, via Marton, by the niail train to-morrow morning.