NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1919, Page 5

NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS.

NEED FOR FURTHER ADDITIONS. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER OP EDUCATION. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. L. C. Sladden (chairman), H. Trimble, E. P. Webster, A. H. Johnstone and S. G. Smith, M.P., members of the New Plymouth High Schools Board of Governors, accompanied by Mr. W. H. Moy»s (principal of the boys' sotfool) and Mr. E. Lash (secretary to the board), waited on the Minister of Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) at Ha were, yesterday morning, and placed before him the urgent need for additional class-room and boarding accommodation at both schools. Mr. S. Q. Smith, M.P.; in introducing the deputation, expressed regret that the Minister had been unable to visit New Plymouth. Mr. L. C. Sladden stated that the school had increased to such an extent thai the time had now arrived when the board could do no more, There was no need for the board to push the schools; the schools wen pushing the board. Both class-room and boarding accommodation at the boys' and girls' sohools were inadequate to cope with the purely Taranaki demand, as the number of pupils from outside was very small. They asked the Minister to sympathetically receive their application for a grant. Mr. A. H. Johnstone pointed out that when the new girls* school was built It was anticipated that it would, bs adequate for their requirements for many years. Fortunately, however, this had not been realised. The demand for secondary education in the district was so ( great' that the girls' school particularly .was cramped for room, and the assembly hall, common room and library were being used as class rooms. Xaranaki was rather peculiarly circumstanced, being the most densely populated district! in New Zealand, with a population of 60,000, and having no town of a. greater, population than 10,000, with the result that secondary schools required greater boarding accommodation than was the case with those in larger cities. He pointed out that the new girls' school had been built at a cost at £5845; of which the, Government found £2OQO, the balance being found by the"board, borrowing on its endowments, i Hon. J. A. Hanan pointed out that the : capitation had increased as a result. [ Continuing, Mr, Johnstone, said that i the board had quite recently considered its future aims, and had been advised to provide boarding. accommodation*, for a maximum of 100 girls and 200 boys: They already had boarders, at the toys' school, 35 of whom belonged to'th« preparatory school, but of these 18 held profloienoy certificates, and many of the others came from distances' it remote < that they did not compete with the primary schools. The new Boys' High School had only been opened in February, and it was already proving too small, and it was necessary that the east wing, as provided in the original plan, should be built. He suggested that it would only be reasonable to ask the Government to give a £ for £ subsidy on the £3OOO subscribed by residents of the town and district to the new school. , This he a very creditable sum, and be thought the subsidy. of 6s 8d in the £ granted by the Government very inadequate, and on that account if they again appealed to the pub- | lie they would not get any further sub-, , scrip tions, though further sums had been I promised if an adequate subsidy was I forthcoming. He doubted Very mueh if any district of similar size had subscribed such a sum, and for that reason 4elt.ju|Ufifd in uktaf U« Bggj|p&sV

to give a further subsidy with a view to the completion of the das* room. He understood that it had been a practice. „of the department to provide clasa-room ■accommodation, and pointed out that, whereas the school had cost £13,394, the Government had only given £6300 i» grants, £IOOO subsidy, on the £3OOO subscribed, and £3600 insurance, the board finding the rest. In view of the importance of the school, he felt that they might justly ask the Government ty grant a larger sum, so that the boy* might be housed properly, and a further wing added to the boarding establishment at a cost of £llOO. In order to" cany out the board's proposals it would be necessary Ho erect a new boarding establishment at the boys' sohooL They <■ came to the Minister, he said, because i . . they felt it their duty to do so, as their " needs were urgent. They did not desire to come as mendicants begging a aubt' ; sidy or a grant. Their demands might, <■ «u he said, appear numerous, but the total ■ W grant they had received from the Got- ; eminent did not amount to more than' . , £BOOO.

Mr. Smith pointed out that the board . had borrowed money to provide board- t i ing accommodation, and had to divert .'.■■ £3845 for class-rooms. He then gar* ;. details showing that the class-room accommodation at the girls' school, OTTO if the preparatory school were elimhV ;. ated, was inadequate for present regain* , [ menta, and gave no opportunity #f meet* , , ing the developments taking place ill the | district. He stressed the need for pro* "• viding boarding accommodation for 100 ■ girls, pointing out that the aocotnmodiV* /, tion at present in the temporary board* ■', ing house was limited to 60, and the* were compelled to turn pupil* away. B*> emphasised the need for speedy aasiit* „' ance. - • -, :- Mr. W. H. Moyes, the principal, »»" ',' ferred to the inconvenience under which he was working, owing to lack of]**". ' commodation at the boarding house. Fejr« '' ther class room was also required.' B; ~; was proposed to limit tin number qri •,. pupils to 400, and the boarder* to 80ft At present the school roll wae 834, ■*& 164 were boarders, none of whoa Bred, \ within eight miles of the school. " Asked by the Minister, Mr. Johnitone said their requirements weret New wing at the boys' school, estimated to Oo*t £3OOO (they asked the Government to give a subsidy of £BOOO on account of . the subscriptions raised, together with », ■' grant of £1000), further boarding ee.- •■; commodation for the boys by the addi- ■ tion of a wing to cost £llOO, a further ' 'boarding establishment for the boy*, ad-' ditional class rooms at the girl*' school, and boarding accommodation for * maximum of 100 girl*. Mr. Hanan, in reply, said that a* f*f M the financial position of the board .had pbtained In the past, it could not be aaid it was due to the fault of the Kdmttfcm . Department. The board had brought forward a proposal demanding the expendh ture of a considerable amount of monegv at a time when great care waa needed. As far sb hostels were concerned, it waj only right to point out that in veryinasy towns there were high school* that had,, done without hostels, the pupil* feeing housed in private place*. He reengaged .. the desire of the deputation to have aa./ > ideal condition of affaxs in canett&jii • with their school, but if they were ghrei . » grant for the purpose in New Hjw,' mouth, it would be neeisuiy to do ife: In other place*. He pointed bnt that though an additional £BOO/100 had fewe' voted by Parliament last year to jaSfe > necessary requirement* in primary. *£* 1 condary, technical and university eftm* tion, the vote had been rapidly aapßtft for, and there was very little left tmJKb' . pended. What sum of money wotjd fee provided for school building* in th* to ture he did not know, but he hoped the Government would lee it* way to jmfitV a sum adequate for school traQdmga? also including hostel* for secondary and ' technical schools. The need* of the school had been ably featured, and he promised to give them consideration. They were to be congratulated on having ' raised such a large sum of money, and "> also on their desire to provide an ideal educational school. He did not aay that the people should provide the nosey, but the raising of stick a substantial sum afforded practical proof of.their i*< terest in education. The want of chui< room accommodation had impressed Hil and he intended as soon as possible to have a report made on the needs of the institution. He was anxious to help the deputation, but he was also very anxious to see primary school building* were planned and well built, and better accommodation provided, particularly in the country. That meant a substantial vote. He did not intend to be charged with neglecting .the essential need* of primary education by diverting money -, for the benefit of those who had already '' / had primary education. He wanted to do justice to both primary and second- ' ary education, because he wa* of opin-' \ ion that it was their duty to make each * branch efficient. Regarding hostels, he ' - 'was with them in their desire to see ■ hostels established in connection with ' I" technical and secondary school*, and in *. this hejvas more concerned about the boys than the girls. In conclusion, he expressed his gratification at seeing the people throughout New Zealand reaUiisg the great advantages of education. The deputation thanked the Miniater and withdrew. > '.