HAWERA EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1919, Page 2

HAWERA EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

TEE DISESTABLISHMENT QUESTION

Some strong remarks were made at the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday regarding the delay that has occurred in giving effect to the wishes of the Hawera people in regard to the disestablishment of the Hawera District High School and the establishment of a Technical High School there. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., said that, despite repeated attempts they were unable to get the Minister of Education, for some unaccountable reason, to agree to the disestablishment of the Hawera District High School. The Hon. Mr. Hanan would give no satisfactory reason why he would not give effect to the unanimous wishes of the people of Hawera, on which the board had deputationed him on various occasions, and on

which also he had been approached by members of Parliament in the House, a question even being placed on the order paper They could get no satisfaction from the Minister. Ho had hoped that the school would have been disestablished by the new year. Now, probably in three months time, they would be told that it would be too late to do anything this year. The people of Hawera knew that the board was losing no opportunity of pressing the matter forward, but he did not know where the cause of the delay was, as the Minister would give no explanation. He, however, wanted the people of Hawera ,to recognise that the board had taken all possible steps, and perhaps the people themselves would take further steps

and send a strong deputation to wait on tlie Minister. The chairman said the board had certainly done everything possible. Mr. Eaves thought it would he a sign of weakness to ask the people to do what they would not do themselves. Mr. Smith: They are the electors. Mr. Wilkinson said he desired to em-

phasise the fact that the hoard had exhausted every moans in its power and failed. Mr. Smith said that what Mr. Wilkinson had stated was quite true. The board and the people of Hawera had sent letter after letter, resolution after resolution, and the board had waited on the Minister on various occasions. It was an absurd position that, when everyone wanted a certain thing, someone —it was hard to say who—blocked the desires of the board and also the district. They must endeavor to find who was holding

up the position and why. The Council of Education had recommended the change. The only possible objprtion, if it could be called an he had heard was that the board might later, ask for a large sum for rebuilding. The chairman: We distinctly said wc would not require this. Mr Smith suggested that they might appeal to Cabinet. Mr. Wilkinson said he did not want

to take the extreme step of going over the Minister' 3 head. . He would prefer to give the Minister another opportunity, as the board wished to continue its. friendly relations with the Minister; but it seemed to him that they wero approaching a stage when tliey might have to go over the Minister's head. Mr. Eave3 suggested that the Education Board should meet the Hawera people with a view to arranging a deputation before taking extreme steps.

The chairman said the Hawera people recognised the board liad done all it could in the matter. In the course of further discussion it was .stated that some of the members would be in Wellington shortly, and would be willing to wait on the Minister if considered necessary.

In the event of a public meeting being held in Hawera and deciding on a deputation the matter of the hoard's representation was left in the hands of the chairman. SCHOOL FOR WHAREROA.

Tho Department notified that it was unable to agree to the establishment of a cido school at Whareroa, as tho distance wa3 only 2-} miles from Hawera school. In the course of discussion it was pointed out that there was a distance of seven miles between Mokoia and Hawera. If a permanent school was to be erected at Whareroa a different site would be Ao3en, but tho present site was selected for tho side school owing to there being a hall available. A school was necessary ia tho district, a3 the present Hawera school contained over SOO pupils aad wa3 becoming too cumbersome.

On the motion of Messrs Wilkinson and Eaves the chief inspector was to be asked to report en tho necessity of establishing a new school at Whareroa or in that district.

TAWHITI SCHOOL. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson pointed or,t the urgent need for the erection of a school at Tawhiti. This was recognised by the Department, who had spent £Bll in tho purchase of a 3ite. Hawera school was very much congested, and he moved that plans be prepared and application made for a grant for the erection of a school at Tawhiti.

This was seconded by rsr. Eavc3 and carried.