VISIT TO HUTT VALLEY SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 226, 20 June 1929, Page 15

VISIT TO HUTT VALLEY SCHOOLS

-p MINISTER COMPLIMENTED At the meeting of the Wellington Edu. cation-Board yesterday Mr. G. T. London reported that he had, as representative of the board, together with the board’s architect, met the Minister of Education (Hon. H. Atmore) at Petone on Monday. The Hon. T. JI. Wilford was also present. They visited four schools in the Hutt district, commencing with Petone Central, followed by Wilford School, Petone West and Eastern Hutt, when the Minister addressed the assembled children, teachers and members of the committee. Mr. Atmore inspected each room of the schools, and agreed that the best tuition could not be given at Wilford School Tinder existing conditions. In regard to the playing area round the school, which had recently been ploughed, he agreed that an assembly ground was necessary, and suggested that if the parents would raise £25 towards the cost, he thought the Department might provide the remainder, approximately about £lOO. Before leaving, the Minister presented a number of proficiency certificates to the children. Mr. London added that they endeavoured to prolong the visit of the Minister tb the Hutt, but he had to leave for Nelson the same night. He understood the Minister had visited nearly half the schools in the Dominion, and it was beyond the endurance of any man to do all that work and please everyone. He believed that in the short period the Min-’ inter had been in office he had done his very best, and recognised the responsibility of bis office- If there had been an apparent oversight and want of consideration for the board in regard to the Silverstream matter, he was sure there was a reason for it, but he agreed that it was quite proper for the board to draw attention to any irregularity. The Minister bad so much to do that he did not know which way to turn. He had never heard anyone show such a grip of educational matters as did the Minister in, the course of the remarks he made.