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Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1920, Page 4

AN URGENT NEED. The success achieved by the New Plymouth Girls' High School has had the effect of attracting pupils from country districts far in excess of the number that can be accommodated at the present boarding-house at Strandon, the only building that could be obtained for the purpose. This is not surprising, considering that there is no similar boarding school, where proficiency certificates may be used, between Wanganui and New Plymouth on the one side, and the country through to Auckland other. The school and its educational facilities are at the service of the whole of Taranaki, and beyond. Its rapid development is entirely due to merit, and on all side 3 there is an increasing demand from parents that their daughters may participate in the educational advantages to be derived at the Girls' High School. Unfortunately the Board Qovsners Juts no fresh

undertakings, and cannot therefore build a boarding-house to meet even present needs. The Government has already been asked for forty similar establishments, but, manifestly cannot meet these claims. The most it can do is to give a £ for £ subsidy, and a definite promise has been made by the Minister to provide such a subsidy for the New Plymouth Girls' High School boardinghouse up to £7500. This has encouraged the Old Girls' Association to enter upon a vigorous campaign with the object of raising the necessary ' funds, which, with the subsidy, would permit of the erection and equipment of an up-to-date boarding-house on the Board's own property adjoining the school itsefllktThe members of the Association are appealing for help to the whole community. Nothing is farther from their desire or intention than in any way to interfere with the good work done by other secondary schools in Taranaki, their sole object being to serve the needs of the girls who must leave their homes in the country to obtain secondary education, and to give the school a chance to develop. Their claim for help by both.town and country people is very strong, for both derive much benefit from the school, which means much to the whole province. We have no hesitation in warmly commending the appeal to all who can assist. The campaign is strongly organised, and backed by keen enthusiasm, while the cause is one that has for its object the securing for Taranaki'girls educational facilities equal to those afforded by other Collegiate schools. We know of no cause more worthy of help, and it is to be hoped that ihe response will be thoroughly worthy of the most prosperous district in the Dominion.