EASTERN HUTT.

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 95, 22 April 1918, Page 4

EASTERN HUTT.

The committee of the Eastern Hutt School in its annual report states that there are 344 scholars on the roll. Speaking of the school grounds the report states that "some oi the committee men gave of their tima to cultivate the school grounds and to remove t-lie govse from the western boundary,, where the shelter trees are growing well. We are specially indebted to Captain Hobbs for organising the boys into a working bee and cultivating the ground that the committee had had ploughed and narrowed, and planting there potatoes, pumpkins, and marrows. Mr. Baldwin supplied the seed potatoes free of cost. We have sold all the potatoes, but are still open to do business through the headmaster in- pumpkins and marrows, many very fine specimens of which have just ripened. The money thus raised goes towards school ground improvements." There was a balance in hand on 31st December of £55 11s 4d. The committee adds :—"We have a good school, centrally situated in good grounds, ami ably staffed,'but the accommodation is quite inadequate to the needs of the district. Our rooms are crowded in all classes. In the four rooms of the infant department there are 30 children in excess of the floor space allowance and 21 in excess in the upper school, making a total of 51 in excess of the space allowed or imfficient, without any further admissions to the school, to nil another room at once. There are 73 in Standards 5 and C under one teacher and 70 in Standards 3 and 4, likewise under only one teacher. It is a great tas on the teachers'of these classes, and the success accomplished reflects great credit on Mr. Olson and Miss Lea and the headmaster. Mr. M'Bain has had to refuse admission to many applicants. It is an injustice to the people of the district that sufficient room is not provided for their children, and many of them, who are quite young, are forced to walk long distances and to cross the bridge to the other Hutt school or else go to private or denominational schools. Again this year we nave brought before the Education Board this very unsatisfactory condition and, through tha ablo representations of Mr. E. P. Rishworth, with the help of Mr. G. London, members of the board, we have now secured tlie sympathetic consideration of the board, which acknowledges fully the justice and need of our case, and lias put the matter clearly and strongly before the Edii'cation Department."