THE NEW RAILWAY TIMETABLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9659, 25 November 1909, Page 5

THE NEW RAILWAY TIMETABLE.

FROM AN EDUCATIONAL POINT OF VIEW. A RETROGRADE STEP. The proposed alterations to the Wairarapa railway timetable, if enforced, will have a retrograde effect as far as education is concerned, and will give a serious* check to the educational development nf the whole of the district of the Wairarapa. The new service will] penalise the whole of the children whose homes are situated anywhere between Featherst.n and Pahiatua. Their junior free places, or senior free places, will be absolutely to them, unless their par ants can afford to pay for board and lodging.

The particular effect oil the Mas tarfcon District High School will be the lowering of the status of its secondary, department. On an average there are ten scholars from the district north of Masterton attending the secondary department of £thia school. These 7 ! pupils- are the holders of Junior free places, or senior free places. They will not be able to continue their free secondary education when the new train service iB inaugurated. The loss of pupils will result in a reduction of the it iff, ana a reduction in the salaries of the remaining secondary teachers. This will mean that the positions will not command the same quality of teaching ability as is the case at 11.• prosent time. This will also apply in the case of other District High Schools in the Wairarapa. A special loss to the children from the Bush districts will be that they will be debarred from the benefits of the extended course in agriculture, to be inaugurated at this school at the commencement < f next year, in accordance with tre scheme proposed by the Education Departrn:nt.

A TARANAKI PROTEST. By Telegraph—Prras- A- ! sor ation. NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 24.. A pullic meeting to-day pasa:d a resolution to eiter a vigorous protest, against the proposed new railway timetable by which the Wellington express will arrive in New Plymouth at 9.20 p.m. instead of 8 o'clock. A deputation will interview the Minister and General Manager of the subject. The Cham berbf Commerce has also protested and is sending a deputation to co-operate with the citizens' dele gates. The Taranaki County Council and New Plymouth Borough Council have passed resolutions of protest.. Mr H. Okey, M.P., telegraphed frorn Wellington that there may be a chance of speeding up the train, between Palmerston North and New Plymouth. Stratford a">d Eltham are also coi operating, and efforts will be made to have the deputation thoroughly representative of the whole of 'laranaki.