OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 1940, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

BATHS AND WATER SUPPLY

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The position, as I see it, in connection with the proposed baths and water supply is ridiculous. The baths could quite well be left till after the war is over, and our efforts and stray cash devoted to helping our boys in their grand effort, both here and abroad.

The water supply is a much more serious question. Flowers and lawns can be left to lake their chance, but vegetables cannot. Our Mayor insists that we grow vegetables as part of our war contribution and then calmly cuts eff the water with dire results to the vegetables. The pVesent state of the water supply is the result of shortsightedness and lack of enterprise by former borough councils. The present council seems just as shortsighted. The proposal to line the pipes with concrete at a cost of £lO.OOO is just throwing good money after bad, like the boring which was carried out recently. There is plenty of water close to, and some even in Masterton. If placed like a lot of New Zealand towns the hesitation would be understandable. If the full scheme were carried out now the water problem would be settled for some time to come, and the 38 citizens who got caught for breaches of the hosing restrictions, and the many hundreds who didn’t, could sleep without'a worry — I am, etc., G.A.S.

Mastertbn, January 31.

MAORI EDUCATION

(To the Editor.) Sir—The Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trust Board is composed of able men who have always given of their best to fulfil their trust. The Trust is a Church of England one, and. has always been administered with the sole idea of giving the best possible education to the Maori children. Real progress has been made, limited only by the finance available. After the unfortunate fire at Hikiraiigi it was found that funds were insufficient to erect a building worthy of the Maoris and provide an income sufficient for the expenses of the College.

Thanks to the careful management of two of the trustees, who have given unlimited time to the properties, the revenue of recent years has increased and been added to the accumulated fund. Of course, as with all Church of England institutions, a printed report and, a statement of accounts, duly auditiG, is published annually. That increase encouraged the trustees to consider the next step. Various meetings were held with the Maoris, and a Maori member was added to the board. It was thought that one good College might be erected in. say, the Hutt. Valley, which would serve both coasts. Very wisely the scheme was submitted to competent accountants and others interested in education who advised that even the amalgamated funds were insufficient for a worthy college. The proposal for a hostel was also submitted and was found inconsistent with the Trust. The board had thus to consider again the next step, and it was decided, for the present, to get power to grant scholarships to boys and girls tenable, as the Trust demands, at Church,of England schools such as Te Ante and Hukarere. Then the Wairarapa scholars would meet representatives of the Maori race from all parts of New Zealand. and would be given an education of the kind laid down by the trust at the leading Maori schools of the Dominion.

Should conditions change and the assets of the Trust increase other plans x could be made. but. in the meanwhile, this proposal will be welcomed as an earnest of the continued determination of the board to use its funds for the highest benefit of Maori children of the Wairarapa.--! am, etc., E. J. RICH, Archdeacon of Wairarapa,