A DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL FOR CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11945, 14 July 1904, Page 5

A DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL FOR CHRISTCHURCH.

MB SEDDON "FULL UP." (SPECIAL TO "THB PRESS.") WELLINGTON, July 13. When the deputation that waited on the Premier to-day regarding the Christchurch technical classes had concluded its interview, Mr a A. C. Hardy, M.H.R., took the opportunity of urging upon Mr Seddon the necessity for further provision being made for secondary education in Christchurch. He urged that the Government should establish a district High School in the city. Hundreds of boy*-, he said, were running now about the streets in Christchurch, who would attend «ich a school. There was a district High School in Lytteiton, and the necessity of providing one in Christchurch was shown by the fact that children from Christchurch were actually sent to the Lytteiton school. Mr D. Buddo supported the application. Mr Hardy paid they would call upon the Government for scarcely a shilling for buildings. They already had a suitable building. Mr Taylor said the West Christchurch school buildings would do for such a. school with scarcely any alteration, and the difference in salaries would bo very slight as compared with the present cost. Mr Seddon, in reply, said he recognised that there were a number of pupils in Christchurch entitled to secondary education who could not get it. At present no provision wa* made for the number who had a right to attend such a school. The position was such that unless some change waa made, there would be nothing for it bub to give permission for the establishment of a district High School. He had endeavoured to get provision made for the present secondary school to take a snfiicient numbers of free scholars, and he had been asked to wait, on the plea that all would come right. Well, it was not coming right, aud time, was going on, and some children were losing the chance of attending such a school. He therefore had no right to refrain further from taking action. He might, add that in respect to free scholars, it was his intention to a*k Parliament to go farther than it had already gone. There was the Wellington College and other kindred institutions that had not yet made proper provision in this respect. Ho read an extract from a letter that appeared in the "Press" yesterday regarding the Girls' High School. As soon as there wart a vacancy, these schools found that they could fill it. with paying pupils, and co they preferred to take that class. H*> had. however, to look at the matter from another standpoint, the standpoint of the endowments that belonged to the people. The parent' whose children wore attending these schools were not paying frr nil their pupils' education, and the governors of these schools were- taking up an attiUide that should not be taken up any longer. He was about "full vp M > of. the present state of affairs, and it would be just as well to get. the Act altered, so that Boards would have to provide for a certain number of free scholars, based upon the endowments they had obtained from the State. "In this case," Mr Seddon added, ''I may tell you it is the intention of the Government'to give a district High School to Christchurch."