NORTHERN WAIROA

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 37, 12 August 1921, Page 10

NORTHERN WAIROA

, .VISIT BY MINISTERS OF THE

CROWN.

„ (II TBIBORAPH.—PBBSS ASSOCIATION.)

DASGAVILLE, 11th August. The Hon. O. J. Parr, Minister of Education, was entertained at a public banquet on Tuesday night. Yesterday, ift conjunction with the Hon. J. G. Coates, he laid the foundation-stone of a new brick infant school, the first of the kind iii Northern Wairoa. During the day he\ visited all the schools in the district, and also several sites for proposed now schools, and the site of the now technical school, to .cost £14,030. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Parr said, in congratulating the committee on its efforts, that ill would be- the day when school committees were- abolished. . They were direct representatives of the parents, and had slaved the country thousands of pounds in the cause of education. While .he was in power he would not attempt to weaken the power of the local school committees. He deplored the fact that nearly 40 per cent. of. our boys left school with only fourth standard certificates, and in his new proposals, some of which he outlined, was a scheme to get hold of these boys. He stated that'the financial stringency was the only thing that stopped a lot of his proposed reforms being brought in. He was hopeful, however, that things would soon brighten up, and allow him to carry out many- much-needed reforms.

Mr. Coates received deputations, the chief of'which was one from the Whangarei County Council asking for assistance to complete the Weka Valley-road, on the Dargaville-Whangiu-oi main road, which is almost impassable .it present. The request was listened to favourably, but no definite promise was made.