WAITARA SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1921, Page 3

WAITARA SCHOOL

THE NEED FOR REBUILDING. BOARD DISCUSSES POSITION. - Considerable discussion ensued over the Waitara School at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Education Board. Mr. F. Hoskins, who ever since his election to the board has been a keen advocate for the rebuilding of the school, again drew attention to the urgency of the matter, remarking that the school was most insanitary. He considered that it would be far better to have no school than the present insanitary one, which was a breeding place for disease. Later in the meeting a communication was received from the department to the effect that the grant for additions to the Waitara School must be held over until the financial position improved. Mr. F. Hoskin then asked what money was available for rebuilding the Waitara School from the fund set aside for that purpose. The chairman said that was a matter which was in the hands of the department. Mr. Hoskin remarked that he wished the department were present, so that he could ask them, as he wanted something definite to place before Waitara householders. He was almost ashamed to meet the Waitara people on the street, as he had been able to do nothing. It appeared that other districts were able to get a little but Waitara got nothing. The chairman asked that the statement be withdrawn, as it was not correct. Mr. Hoskin said that even at Motunui, a deserving case, they had been unable to get anything, whereas other places did get a little.

Mr. A. Lees said that every member of the board recognised the urgency of the Waitara claim and supported it, but the difficulty was with the department. Mr. White said he was sorry Mr. Hoskins had made the statement, as, though Mr. Hoskins may not have intended it, it reflected on the other members of the board. If the records were looked up it would be found that when the department had asked them to place matters before them in order of urgency they had put the Courtenay Street infant school first and had bracketed Waitara and Fitzroy together second. They had not yet got the first matter attended to, having had to accept the department’s statement in good faith that the money was not there. In respect to Fitzroy, they had not had any proposal accepted by the department. In regard to Waitara, the department had done more. It had approved of the plans sent down, but had definitely stated that the money was not available. He took it that as soon as the money was available the work would be done. Mr. Hoskins said that he did not wish to cast any reflection on the board, which had done everything possible, and he would withdraw the statement if members considered it was a reflection. He then moved that in view of the urgency of the case at Waitara, the department be asked how much of the rebuilding fund was available for remodelling the Waitara School. The chairman considered that this might possibly be detrimental to the steps already taken. The motion was withdrawn, and the following motion, proposed by the chairman, and seconded by Mr. Hoskin, was carried: That, in view of the department’s reply, the architect be asked to report on the conditions at Waitara with a view to ascertain the minimum amount of work that could be carried out at the present time.