The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1880.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 636, 4 December 1880, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1880.

We cannot say much for the manner in which' the Wellington Education Board dispatches its business. Some time ago the Masterton Committee made a strong recommendation to it respecting the overcrowded state of the infant room in this town, and after delay the matter was referred ■ for the report of two members of the Board. Whether these memhers'have reported or not we are in ignorance, but apparently they have neglected to do so. At any rate no active steps have been taken to remedy the evil complained of. One would have thought that with an Inspector sitting at the Board who knows, or should know the exact size of .the room and. the'' exact .number of children in.it, any further reference which' involved • delay would have been 'unnecessary. One would .have imagined that the Board would simply have ascertained then and there the fabt whether the room, was or was not oveicrowded, and given a definite answ.er. to the application: Unfortunately, the Board is getting a reputation for unbusinesslike habits—for doing a minimum amount of work in the maximum amount of time allotted to its meetings; and consequently it transacts its business by a convenient process of "shelving." We do not suppose that the Masterton School Committee will submit to the shelving process, but feel sure it will persist in its application till its reasonable .request is attended to. Probably within six months of its first application the accommodation asked for will be conceded but the result will hardly be satisfactory. Id the first place, the children will have been subjected to a close and unhealthy confinement in school hours luring the hottest portion of the year,' )ver a. hundred of them being daily : wedged into & local Black H®le of Calcutta, measuring about eighteen eet in one direction'and fourteen in ■ fog Other, In the second a strong feel-. •' ng against %> Education Board's i emissness will prevent the locai i ommittee from "working 83 hurmo- i liously with the Board as it would do < rare a fair amount of attention paid to 1 is requirements. The interests of \ he schools in the Upper Valley are • carcely receiving that consideration 1 "om the Board to vhicli they are c "titled, and the only way in which v lose interested in them can mend t latters will be to strengthpn'our repre- I 1 mtation on the Bofird by the election '' f a representative who will lo.oJc a ttle more sharply after our interests. ], Messrs Beethani, Bunny and Pliarazyn' o; ive, as a whole, done fairly well for; ci is .district at the but the o 1 Ellington members, who are alwavs w headquarters, outnumber them, and ?' aotically hold hold the reins.. Jf,aa J 3 understand, Mr Bunny will not at „ o coming election be again a candi- lii

date it will be necessary for us to endi voi* to secure the. some lot resident who will be able to take ' i active paifc in the- administration', education in this district. . Just at t. present time, with Messrs Beetham ai Pharazyn holiday making, tl position of tbe Wairarapa at the. Boai is a very weak one, and it is no matt of surprise tluit ■ urgent and pressii wants are ignored, In proportion \ the number of children attending tl school, the buildings at Masterton a: far inferior to those of any other schoi in the district. It is quite out of tl: question-' that, the ■ efforts ;.0f...abl teachers are to be - counteracted' b inadequate school accommodation ; ( that tho health.of the children in thi town is to be sacrificed to the somm lence of tho Board and the indifferent of our representatives to their dutie ,We trust to see our. local coinmitte once more bringing its claims forwan and insisting upon them in ever shape and way till they are qdmittec