THE HAMILTON EAST SCHOOL.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 733, 27 February 1877, Page 2

THE HAMILTON EAST SCHOOL.

The conduct of the Central Board of Education in connection with the Hamilton East school demands the most full and complete explanation. Tne Auckland Press, or a portion oi it at leasts prides itself upon ferreting out and correcting abuses, and here i«j one to.:its hand. The local com. mittee of the East Hamilton school has not hesitated to affirm that the Central Buar I of Education, in acting as it has done, and still coniinues to do, towards the committee and the school district is actuated by a petty spilit of pique. Which so important a body, either in its members or its officers, should,be above <ind beyond. It appears, that in asking* certain favours for their school from the Colonial Government, such as the grant of land for the building, and the use of the immigrants' cottages as a temporary schoolhouse, the local 3om mittee were guilty of a breach of official etiquette iu applying for these matters, not through the Central Board, hut direct from the Colonial Government itself. '! o this cause the committee attribute the exceptional treatment they are receiving at the hands of the Central Board. In the case of West, and East Hamilton, the same terms were given—raise £75 amongst yourselves, and the Central Board will contribute ,£175 towards the cost of the school build ing. The Hamilton West comuittee set to work to : a rise the amount, but could not succeed in doing so. Nevertheless, the Central Board very properly made no objection, buttaking less than half the su m raised,some £35, leaving£4o still owing, gave authority for proceeding with the. construction of the building, and a handsome wellbuilt, and commodious schoolhouse is the result. Now mark the difference between the treatment of West and East Hamilton : Iu the latter iistrict the. committee raised £6l out of £75 required, called for tenders for the erection of a schoolIronsp, and got an exactly similar building to that put up at Hamilton West tendered Tor at a less sum. .But tbe Central Board stepped in and refused to- sanction the contractors proceeding with the building till the last £of the £75 to be locally subscribed; had been paid. Now, why this difference between East and West ? If the local committee of East Hamilton has ruffled the official dignity, of the Board or its officers, is that any reason why the inhabitants should be made ro suffer. Eor months Hamilton East was kept without a .school and a master, until, in fact, more than £75 had been saved to the Board in unpaid salary ; and now, when at last a master; has been a month appointed, the settlement of the erection of a schopihouse is as far off as over. Tho Central Board,

Shylock like, demands its' pound of nosh. all, as wo have said, cpmniittee, bub the disi suffers. . Yesterday, in atmosphere of a s'lial! building, roofed in with corrugated iron, 60 to 70 children We're crammed.'. Tlie place was like an oyeii, unhealthy for the children aiitl teachers; and.it reflected not a little on the credit of the latter that

they were able to keep as good order as,they did in such, a crowded building and so uucouifort ible and enervating an atmosphere. Now, we* , put a simple, question or two to the Gentrari3bard; Firstly, is this charge true—and it has been made by members of the local committee in public meeting-—that Hamilton East is being visited for the official .sins of its Ideal committee? We do not suppose if it were so that the ; Board, or its officers, would .confess : as much j 'but if they pannot ■ show other reasons for their action, then will their silence condemn them. Secondly, we would ask why the .exceptional tieatment betwen the two townships, and chat, top, after the Inspector had told one of the committee that even it £4O or £SO of.the £75 was raised, the work should proceed. These are matters which, in the public interest, need stirring up and ventilating, and we are determined that the utmost publicity shall be given to what we cannot, until good cause en the other side is shown, but consider most'unaccduutable oondupt on the part of the Central Board of Education towards one of the local school district of the Four Counties. ' ■