PAHAUTANUI SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 65, 19 March 1919, Page 8

PAHAUTANUI SCHOOL

MATTER BEFORE EDUCATION BOARD. During the meeting of the Education Board this morning, Mr. W. H. Walton, chairman of the Pahautanui School Committee, attended and complained of the condition of the school, which, as already reported in The Post, had been severely commented on at a meeting of local residents, who had decided to advise all the children not to attend the school, which from the beginning of the week has been practically closed. The Chairman informed the board before Mr. Walton attended that a new room had been added, but that room was not used be cause the old room had a more pleasant aspect. The only objection to the old room was that it was infested by "the borer." The proposal was to spend about £50 in fixing up the building. Mr. Walton urged on the board the necessity of providing a new school, as the present building was over fifty years old, and two years ago the committee was told that the money was in hand for a new structure, and that the only question that had to be settled was' that of a site. Some months ago the present site was selected, and it was understood that a new building would be erected. In the, meantime some repairs had been effected, but the committee was not satisfied with those repairs. Such a worm- | eaten school should not be allowed to | exist any longer. The parents, he added, had-withdrawn the children from the school by way of protest. They desired j to bring their position before the board ! in a more forcible manner than was | otherwise possible. The Chairman said I that when the board agreed to build a new school it had sufficient money for ' the purpose—between £500 and £600— but at present, owing to the increased price of building material, it would cost about £1400. He recommended Mr. Walton to go to the Minister of Education and ask him for a grant to make up the difference. He "himself would ! give any 'help possible iti that direction. Air. Walton accepted the advice, and J added: "For goodness' sake, don't waste any more money on that old building."