MINISTER'S TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 250, 21 October 1926, Page 17

MINISTER'S TOUR.

MR. WRIGET AT FRANKLIN.

A NUMBER OF DEPUTATIONS.

The Minister of Education, the Hon. R. A. Wright, visited the Franklin electorate yesterday. The member for Franklin, Mr. E. D. McLennan, and Mr. J. Patterson, member of the Auckland Education Board, were members of the party. • ■ , .

At Manurewa a large deputation waited - upon. the Minister.. Mr. W. T. Cox,' chairman of the school committee, urged the necessity "of providing for accommodation to cope with the present and increasing overcrowding proolem. Dr. Campbell Jenkins spoke at length requesting the Minister to consider the establishing of a junior high school at Manurewa while Mr. C. H. Lupton asked that consideration be given io the establishment of a subsidiary dental clinic in the district.

Mr. A. C. A. Sexton, chairman of the Manurewa Town the Minister rf a subsidy would be forthcoming tow: rds the construction of swimming baths in the,school grounds. In reply the Minister stated that the fact that t! ..-bath would be partly for public use complicated the request, but he would inquire into the : position. He also promised consideration of the other requests submitted.

After addressing the children, Mr ' Wright left for Papakura, where he was met by a dej 'ation from the Ideal school committee. Mr. J. Rea, urged the need and suitability of the locality for a district high school. The school master, Mr. Elliot, and Mr. Patterson spoke in support of the proposal.

In reply the Minister agreed.that the tram service was unsatisfactory from th& children's point of view and also that the present system of drawing the children towards the city for their secondary education was not altogether desirable. He promised to have the whole position investigated.

After addressing the children, the Minister proceeded to Drury, but the stcv here was a brief- one. On arrival at Pukekohe the Minister was met by representatives of the local school committee and motored to the top of Puke 7 kohe Hill where he expressed himself as delighted with the magnificent vjew. In the afternoon a visit was paid the public and secondary schools, after which Mr. Wright proceeded to Hamilton.