THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1910. HIGH SCHOOL FOR MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10086, 6 September 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1910. HIGH SCHOOL FOR MASTERTON.

Probably there is no township in New Zealand more liberally endowed, from an education point of view, than Masterton.' Here we have a Trust, created by our forbears, specially dedicated to the cause bf edit* cation. The revenues of this Trust are annually increasing, and the moneys are being dispensed as the demands of the district occur and the wisdom of the Trustees dictates. Splendid work has been achieved in i the past in assisting the various scholastic institutions under the jurisdiction of the Trust, and there is more important work to be done j in the fr.turo. From the configura- I tion of the district, Masterton is the I natural centre of a large and fertile j area of country. It is the distribut- I ing market for a population of near-

jly 30,000 people. As such, it is in duty bound to maintain its local institutions in keeping with its important, environments. For some years past the district has been served with a District High School under the able control of Mr W. H. Jackson. The secondary classes at the school have been well patronised, and they have served a useful purpose so far as the educational re-

quirements of the district are coiv

cerned. But, at the most, they are only a small stage removed from the

higher primary classes which existed a few years ago. They do not furnish the education required to fit a child for the Civil Service 'or the

University. The education imparted in the District High School is not to

be compared with that of the Well-

ington College or Girls' High School

And yet. the boy who takes a profici-

ency certificate Ux ft Wellington gri-

Mary school is-entitled to a free place in the Wellington College. Why should Masterton not have a High School proper, which would afford the children of the district an opportunity of acquiring an extended higher education ? The District High School at Palmerston North, which was instituted after that of Masterton, was disestablished some years ago in favour of a High School proper. The Dannevirke District High School followed suit, and now a strong agitation is afoot among School Committees in the Hutt Valley for the establishment of a High School there. Why should Masterton be satisfied with a District High School, when, with practically no eftort, it could secure a High School, with the services of a Rector and an efficient staff? The value of such an institution to the district cannot be over-estimated. At the present time dozens of boys and girls of the wealthier classes in this district are sent to Wellington, Wanganui, Dunedin and other colleges. For why? Because we have no institution in the district which imparts the education required. With such a splendid endowment as the Trust Lands, coupled with the revenues ,of School Commissioners' reserves which at present*go to the Wellington ,and otlur colleges, Masterton should possess a High School which would not only serve the requirements of the immediate surroundings of the town, but which would attract scholars froni all parts of the Wairarapa and Forty-Mile Bush, besides other portions of the Dominion. The establishment of a High School would involve the disestablishment of the present District High School. On the broad ground' of educational policy, this would be a very desirable thing. The cost of providing a High School would, perhaps, be considerable, but the benefits i . ■ which would accrue to the -whole community would be of such a substantial and permanent character that the question of expense should be regarded as a secondary matter. Masterton has shown its ability to carry through any project it takes in hand. Here is one which must appeal to all who have at heart the welfare of the rising generation and of the township in which they live If the School Committees of the district, together with the Trust Lands Trust, were to 1 confer upon the subject, a scheme would be very quickly propounded whiclk would make for the good of the community. Possibly the Trust Lands Trustees, who are, presumably, animated with a desire to do permanent service t<y the cause of education, will see their way clear to give this matter their con- | sideration.