MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1920, Page 6

MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

VISIT TO NEW PLYMOUTH. A BUSY DAY. I The Minister of Education (the Hon. C. .T, Parr), who arrived in New Plymouth on Wednesday night, spent a busy day. in and around the district yesterday. Mr. Parr was accompanied by the chairman of the Education Board (Mr. R. Masters, M.P.), Messrs S. G. Smith, M.P., H. Trimble, P. J. WHite, 11. H. Grayling, and A. Lees (members of the Board), the secretary (Mr. P. S. Whitcombe), the architect (Mr. C. H. Moore), and also Mr, Spencer, of the Department office at Wellington. A start was made a little before nine o'clock, when the Minister was taken to see the site set apart for a school on' the Prison Reserve at Moturoa. From there the visitors were taken to the West End school, where the Minister was taken through the building and grounds. A visit was then made to Westown, and Reserve T and the portion .of the Standish Estate were inspected, and the proposals for the exchange of sites were explained to Mr. Parr. The Vogeltown school was visited, after which the party made a complete visit to the Central school and the Courtenay Street infant school. The Minister was then taken to Fitzroy, where the school, and also the recently acquired additional ground, were looked over. Prom here Mr. Parr visited the boarding department of the Girls' High School, and then went to the school itself, where he was met by the chairman and members of the Board of Governors and th« lady principal (Miss J. R. Barr), with whom the question of additional accommodation was discussed, and the Minister undertook to give a reply to the representations before leaving New Plymouth. He pointed out, however, that the position was complicated by the fact that the preparatory department occupied part of the buildings. The Technical College was next visited, and Mr. Purr expressed appreciation of the work heing done there, particularly in regard to the engineering classes, the Minister being much impressed with what he was shown in the engineering department. * ' Another feature of the local educational work which impressed itself upon the Minister was the Board's well-equip-ped and up-to-date workshop, and he spoke appreciatively of the fact that the Board did so much of its own building work. It was pointed out that during the past four years only one new building contract had been jet by tender by the Board, all other work having been done by the' Board's own stall' of workmen. After luncheon, Mr. Parr, who is also Minister of Public Health, paid a visit to the New Plymouth Hospital. The Minister then met the teachers who are undergoing a course of lessons at the Technical College, and subsequently went to Waitara, where he received deputations on various matters affecting (he interests of the district. The party returned -tr. town about (i p.in., and last night the Minister had » conference with the Education Board a l its office, when various matters affecting the educational interests of various paris of the Board's district were placed bofore the Minister for his consideration. To-day Mr. Parr returns to Wellington by the mail train.