EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 58, 9 March 1923, Page 8

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.

WAIKATO AND TE AROHA. PROGRESS OF ROTOWARO. (Br Telegraph.—Own Corrcsponllent.) HAMILTON, Thursday. Tho Minister of Education has been inquiring into matters concerning hie department in tho Waikato 'districts during the past two days. Yesterday Mr. Purr investigated the crowded conditions at the Whitiora School, and promised tc ask Cabinet to consider the approval of a grant to provide extra accommodation. The district round about the collieries at Rotowaro is rapidly being populated and a deputation sought the erection of a school. Mr. W. J. Ralph said that since mining operations 'began in 1917 the output had increased, and to-day there were 200 workmen engaged Thirty-eight cottages had been erected by the Taupiri Company, and a model township was being laid out. About 80 children travelled by rail, a distance of six miles daily, to and from school, and were subjected to the danger of travelling. The company had set aside four acres as a free site for a school which the department was asked to provide. Mr. Parr said it must be understood that many applications for educational facilities were made upon his department and, involved very large annual «xpenditure. Generally where railway communication was available to school the erection of smaller schools was not encouraged, but the deputation was quite justified in its advocacy of a school, and he would reply to the request at a later date.

NEW SCHOOL AT TATUANUT. OPENED BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspoedent.) MORRINSVTLLE, Thursday. A new school at Tatuanui was officially opened yesterday by Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education. The building is of modern design and attractive in appearance, both inside and out. It was a red-letter day for the settlers, and practically everybody for miles around attended. The chairman 'of the local school committee, Mr. 'W. C. Woodley, said , it was ten years ago since they first agitated for the school, and for four years it had been conducted in a hall built by the settlers for the purpose. Mr. Parr, in declaring the new building officially open, wished the school every success and hoped the children would grow up to be good-charactered people. The National Anthem was sung, and the children saluted the flag.

SCHOOL FOR HERRIESVIIXE. (From Our! Own Correspondent.) TE AROHA, Thursday. A deputation from the Te Aroha School Committee and residents of Herriesville waited on the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, relative to a school for Iferritsville. The.deputation stated that if the department would secure the site and erect the school the local residents would do all the carting, fencing and incidental work free of charge. A school could be erected for a little over £700. The Minister said that the suggested site was undoubtedly the best one, and on Ms return to Wellington he would interview the Minister of Justice concerning the necessary transfer. Wkh regard to a school building, he said that the department only erected new side schools where existing schools were overcrowded. The department, moreover, could act only on the recommendation of the Education Board.