SCHOOL HOSTELS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1919, Page 2

SCHOOL HOSTELS.

A TARANAKI DEPUTATION. During their recent visit to Wellington Messrs. R. Masters (chairman of the Taranaki Education Board) S. G. Smith, M.P., and C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., urged the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, and Dr. Anderson, Director of Education, to take into their serious consideration the necessity of establishing hostels at the New Plymouth Technical College, Stratford Technical High School, and Hawera Technical High School. Mr. Masters, in expressing the deputation's views, seated that the attendance at each of the'above schools is increasing rapidly, and if they were} to be made the success that we all desired then consideration must be given to establishment of hostels f to make provision for the accommodation and proper supervision of children attending from a distance. Private schools were providing hostels, and if the Government was desirous of maintaining the State system, then it must at least make equal provision. He expressed the hope that if hostels were established they would come directly under the control of the board and not be run for private profit.

In replying the Hon. Mr Hanan and Dr. Anderson stated that this matter was under consideration by the Department at the present tuna, and a departmental report had been made in connection with it. A rough estimate had been made as to the financial requirements, and it was estimated that at least £200,000 would be required to establish hostels that wer.necessary, and they were of opinion that this would probably not be a suffiqien* turn. They were quite satisfied that in the event of the Government finding the cost the profit or loss, as the case might be should be that of the government bodies—viz., the education boards No profit should, or would, be allowed to accrue to any private individual. The whole matter was being placed before Cabinet, and, if they could assure the Government of the fairness of the position they did not anticipate great difficulty in getting the necessary grant Po*t.