EDUCATION AT MANAIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1920, Page 6

EDUCATION AT MANAIA.

NEED FOR THE NEW SCHOOL. BURDEN ON POOR CHILDREN. (By Telegraph—(Special Reporter) Hawera, Last Night. The educational requirements of the Manaia district were brought before the .Minister of Kducation (the Hon. C J. Parr) here to-night. Mr. A. Lees, a member of the Education Muard, introduced a deputation from Manaia, comprising Messrs P. Hammond, N. Parry, and Hewlett (headmaster), on the question of reImilding the Manaia school, wliich had been burnt down last January. Plans had been submitted by the Education Hoard to the Department, and they asked that a grant sufficiently large should be made to permit, of a building adequate to the needs of. a growing dts*trict, as the present accommodation was taxed. They also supported the proposal for, a hostel in connection with the Hawera Technical School. The deputation also asked that some assistance should be granted the parentis of poorer children, ire the way of a boarding allowance. The disabilities children in the Manaia district labored under in regard tc conveyance by coach were also stressed, and the deputation asked that the Department should pay the coach fares of the children attending the Hawera Technical School, or else provide some conveyance of its own. In reply to the Minister, Mr. Lee said that plans had been forwarded to the Department a month ago. The Minister promised to have the passing of the plans expedited. Mr. Hewlett (headmaster) said lie lipped that Manaia might be a central school.' The Minister said this .was a large question, involving considerable expense, but he had no doubt they would have to start in a modest way by experimenting, and if it proved a success they' would have to bring it into effect throuahniit the Dominion. The question whether Manaia would be a central school could not be discussed that night. The poor should have the same opportunities as the rich where the State could give it, but he considered the first il'i't.v was (o hlvp the children in crowded centres better conditions of primary education. The Minister said he would go into the maitfr of the carriage of children. It would require a special loan to carry all children into the towns, and he could not encourage extravagant schemes. He would, however, consider the matter..