THE AGITATION FOR A SECOND SCHOOL AT MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1901, 29 January 1885, Page 2

THE AGITATION FOR A SECOND SCHOOL AT MASTERTON.

'— ♦ : r " '.' (From tlie N. Z. [ An agitation is now. taking place in . Masterton. in favor of a second school being established in that township, Tho present school is situate at the southern end of tho town, near Kvrupuni, and it is : claimed by those .who aro agitating for a I second school at the other ond of Masterton that great inconvenience is caused by ■ children having, to travel such a long distance to school. Tho agitation was carried to such an extent that the recent ; school committee election was conducted i upon the question,.as a.party qujstion, whether Or not a second should be erected, i Tho result of the election was that four of • the advocates of the proposal and three of its opponents were elected. At the Edu- , cation Board meeting yesterday, the matter was brought up, Mr Bunny said ■ the present school was situate at the i Kurupuni end of the town, and, no doubt, this involved a nasty wet walk in : winter. Further, tho people up there had already had their talk and fight about it, and, as a consequence, letters I. .and newspaper extracts were flowing all over tho place. Then the Secretary to the Board produced and handed round copies of a newspaper extract, by which it was shown that, although the central school opponents were in a majority on the now committee, a3a matter of facta larger number of votes had been recorded by a larger number of people in favor of the existing school. Mr Bunny moved that the £oo9propusedtobeexpendediriadditionto' the existing school be set aside for the erection of a new school at the northern end of the town, and that meanwhile no steps bo taken in regard to the proposed' improvements. The Chairman (Mr J. R, Blair) said notice of motion would have to be given, seeing that that the Board had decided to go on with the additions. Mr Bunny said in that case ho would give the notice of motion. He pointed out that the committee recently elected were in a majority in favor of the new school, Mr Beetham., M.H.R., said he should not say anything about that, because his remarks might be considered to have a political bearing. In such matters as these tho agitators generally got into office. It must be borne in mind that the old school was situate in the same end of the town as tho present one. Mr Shannon thought the Boord was already pledged in tho matter. The Chairman said no doubt the Board would build another school when it was required. Mr Bunny asked whether any tender had been accepted for these addiiions. Mr Beetham said a tender had been provisionally accepted. Ho explained that the whole affair had been put into the hands of a sub-committee, and Mr Blair and himself were the only members of it present when tenders wero opened. Therefore they decided to provisionally accept a tender. Mr Bunny: Then at present there is nothing done? Mr Shannon looked upon the matter as fixed. Tho Masterton people, he thought, would be much better off if they allowed the additions to go on, instead of advocating a new school, which probably would not bo erected for a long time. Mr Beetham romarked that the board had no site at the present time. Rev. Mr Paterson said the board was committed. Mr Bunny said the only thing, was, that on Monday evening the advocates of this second school hid olocted a majority to the School Committee, and the people of Masterton were in the best position to judge. Mr Shannon said Mr Bunny's proposition would only have the effect of hanging the matter up, Tho Chairman pointed out that the board wonld have £4OO less for expenditure this year than, it had antioipatei Mr Bunny: Then weshall have. to..re-consider our expenditure. After a desultory discussion, Mr Shannon said if "Jtt Bunny was desirous of hanging tho matter ' "up ' for twelve' months, lie (Mr Shannon) would second.tlie motion., "Mr, Blair: And I won't oppose it, Mr Bunny strongly, opposed this way of putting it,. He waß not desirous of ..hanging the thing up. Mr Shannon thereupon withdrew his observations,. The, Chairman said no letter had been received from the present committee, but there was a letter from a member of it Mr A. W. Hogg. Rsv Mr Patorson: Is it an official communication! The Chairman: No. Mr Bunny: Well, in that case, I wouldn't take.; Mr Beetham said thero seomed to be some.doubt as to which party was the strongest. "We are quite prepared," he added, "to take a poll." Mr Bunny: Yes, but you havo not got the power. He suggested that a deputation from Masterton should be inTited to interview tho : Board. . Dr Newman said Masterton was a growing town; was extending in the direction of the railway station. A new school would be needed thero almost immediately, and they might conveniently keep the £SOO proposed for additions, and by putting anothor £SOO to it, at tho end of the year they would be able to erect a new school. Mr Bunny would like to see the matter pushed on further. Mr Blair suggested ; that tho Board ask the committee to look out for a site. Mr Beetham did not lib to see the school accommodation remain- ! ing as it was for twelve months. Even- '. tually, Mr Bunny having suggested that they should have a deputation consisting of two from each party, and including the • editors of t'i« rival Masterton papers, it was decided that a deputation oonsistinp of Messrs Beetham and Bunny and the ' Gov Mr Paterson should go up to Masterton and inquire into the matter. ['