TARANAKI'S EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1919, Page 7

TARANAKI'S EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

STRONG DEPUTATION TO THE DEPARTMENT. A deputation of the Taranaki Education Board, comprising Messrs R. Masters (Chairman), S. G. Smith, M.P., C, A. Wilkinson, M.P., and T. Buchanan, while on a visit to Wellington in connection with, the Town-planning Conference last week, waited on the Education Department, when various matter pertaining to the Taranaki Education Board were discussed with the officials concerned. Among other matters, the question of a new residence at Norfolk Road was dealt with, and the Department agreed to make a grant for a. new residence. The matter of a new residence at the Okato school was also touched on, and will receive favorable consideration upon the deputation supplying further pp-ticu-lars. Since application, had been made for a grant, the attendance at the Okaiawa school has gone up, necessitating each of the rooms being enlarged. The matter wa9 placed before the Department, which agreed to make a further grant to cover the extra cost entailed. The necessity for improved sanitary conditions was mentioned, and a grant was made, conditional on the board finding a portion of the money. The establishing of a new school at Whareroa is having due consideration. Application was made for a new school at Paraketu Valley, and a grant was made to cover the cost.

The present building at Marakopa being found unsatisfactory and quite unfit for school purposes, application was made for a grant, and the erection of a new school was authorised by the Department. A grant for the enlargement of the Tokaora school will be made on receipt of further information required by thej Department. The question of the enlargement of the Pihama school will be reconsidered at the next meeting of the board, the Department having agreed to find a proportion of the money required. The question of the establishment of a district high school at Opunake was fully gone into with the Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A, Hanan) and the Director of Education (Dr. Anderson). The Minister and Director were, favorably impressed with the request, and should it be found that,the attendance warrants it, the matter will receive very favorable consideration. The urgent necessity for starting the election of the new Technical High School at Stratford as early as possible, so as to permit of the disestablishment of the District High School at the end of the present year,- was also pressed: The Minister stated .'thait.n'o delay whafi ever would occur, and eVory effort wouhi ' he' made to start the '•erection : of th'et 'building at the earliest possible.moment.

Questions regarding-Central, West End, find Spotswood Schools were also dis- 1 cussed; but as several o'f these matters have, recently been before /the Department, further information will be supplied, with the object of having the wishes of the board acceded to. The necessity of the establishment of hostels at New Plymouth Technical College and Stratford and Hawera High Schools was also placed before the Minister and the Director, but, as this is a matter of policy for the Government, no definite decision could be arrived at. In the course of his reply the Hon. J. A. Hanan stated that in the past the Government had not recognised the establishment of hostels in connection with technical schools by giving grants therefor, but several similar applications had come in, and the question of extending grants to such objects was now under consideration by the Department. To make provision for such hostels, as well as to meet the applications that were coming in for additions to techiweal schools, secondary schools and univwii.