TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1928, Page 17

TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

BUILDING TOR PAEROA REFUSED. DECISION OF MINISTER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) PAEROA, Tuesday. During the visit of the Minister of Education (Hon. R. A. Wright) to Paeroa in March last a deputation, comprising Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P., Mr. W. Marshall (Mayor), Mr. C. C. H. McDonald (chairman), and members of the Paeroa District High School Committee, waited on the Minister urging the establishment of a technical high school at Paeroa. In support of the request it. was pqinted out that negotiations were' : in 1917 and finalised in 1918 for the purchase of 13} acres of land at a cost of £1400. The land was purchased for a technical high school site in 1919. The claims of Paeroa for a technical high school were placed fourth on the list for the Dominion, as stated by Mr. E. C. Banks, when chairman of the Education Board, Auckland, in 1921. After inspecting the site the Minister stated that finance was the chief difficulty, but on his return to Wellington he would review the whole position and the deputation could rest assured the request -would receive his earnest consideration.

Yesterday the following reply was received from the Minister through Mr. A, M. Samuel, M.P.:—"With reference to the proposal that a technical high school should be established at Paeroa, I have to say that I have now received reports on the matter from the officers of my department from which it appears there are several towns in a similar position to Paeroa, of which two at least have prior claims in the opinion of my department, supported by the recommendations of the Council of Education.

"I fear that the present time there is little hope of establishing any more technical high schools in these centres, the attendance in no case reaching anything like the numbers required for the efficient conduct of a school offering varied courses of instruction. In my opinion the district high schools in these centres can do all that is necessary until the numbers of pupils attending are much greater than at the present time."