WAIMATE HIGH SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18968, 5 April 1927, Page 13

WAIMATE HIGH SCHOOL

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. The Minister for Education (tho Hon. Mr Wright) visited Waimate yesterday in order to look into matters in connexion with the establishment of a separate high school. The Minister, who was accompanied by Mrs Wright, was met at Studholme station by the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs George Dash) and tho member for the district, Mr J. Bitehener, and Mrs Bitchener> and was taken by motor to Waimate. The Ministerial party was entertained to lunch at the Eoyal Hotel. After luncheon, tho party was joined by Messrs T. Hughes, J. G. Gow, G. Armstrong (members of the Education Board), the Board's assistant architect, Mr Porter, and a visit was paid to the District High School.. On arrival at the school, the Minister was saluted by the children, who were assembled in the playground, and the school band played. The Minister, after addressing the children, made an inspection of the school, after which tho party adjourned to the County Council Chambers, whero the Minister met members of the High School Board and committee of the Waimate. District High School. Mr S. I. Fitch, chairman of the High School Board of Governors, in making the request for ..the establishment of a separate high school, stated that the Board now had accumulated funds totalling £4OOO, and possessed endowment lands bringing in £3OO a year. This money would be of great assistance in building the new school and in the running expenses. The Board also possessed five acres of land on which the school could be built. At present some 123 pupils were attending the High School, which number would increase if a separate high school were established. He asked for favourable consideration of the request. Mr Bitehener said the Minister already knew the speaker's attitude on the matter. Waimate was a growing district, and there was a pressing need and great scope for a separate high school. The Mayor, Mr Dash, said the Borough Council was prepared to earmark some of its reserves for educational purposes. The Minister, in his reply, said the school was greatly overcrowded, and something should be dono in this connexion. He thought the attitude of the Department in tho past towards a separate high school in Waimate was that the time was not ripe for its establishment. Waimate, with 123 pupils, had a reasonable number now for the establishment of a separate high school, and he did not see why such a school should not nourish there as in other towns. The Department had found that_ where high schools were established with the minimum, the number of scholars greatly increased. The fact that they possessed such large funds and endowments showed that Waimate was doing its share towards the cost of the school. When he returned to Wellington, ho would discuss the matter with tho Director of Education. The suggestion of the Mayor in regard to earmarking the reserves was a good one. The Minister concluded by stating his sympathy was with their request for a separate high school, and, provided no serious difficulty arose, he promised to do his best to see the request fulfilled. Mr Fifth returned thanks to the Minister for his sympathetic hearing, after which the Minister left for the north..