SILVERSTREAM SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 35, 10 August 1923, Page 9

SILVERSTREAM SCHOOL

10 THE EDITOR. Sir,—Would you kindly grant me space in your columns to express the resentment of the residents of this district at the dilatory manner in which negotiations for the erection of a school are proceeding? We find the methods employed by those responsible for the delay very difficult to understand. Last winter the parents took action; but, as they were j promised a school, no steps were taken | this year ,to send the youngsters by a later train. The position appears to be j ias follows: The Wellington Education Board is unanimous that we require a | school. The Minister of Education is i agreed on the necessity for a school. Our members of the House of Representatives are stating our case, so where, then, is the hold-up? It does not seem businesslike to us simple country folk that it should take twelve months to acquire the site when the urgency oS the matter is recognised by those in authority. ' It appears to us that a body is difficult to dislodge when its flanks are secured by that impassable obstable 'apathy." Last year we adopted "soft spot-tactics." That is where we made a breach; we exploited the success, only to be met by a moat modern defence, in that, the further we went forward, so the resistance increased. However, we were ably led, and managed to retire in good order, .but we have been taught a lesson. The attack we would like to make would be to ask the. Ministers of Health and Education to come out in the early, train, and see some forty or fifty kiddies shivering on .the station platform at five minutes to 8 in the morning. Epidemic of influenza', did some one say? It is a wonder to us that there is not an epidemic of pneumonia. We have read with interest of the establishment of junior high schools, but we couutry folk are of the'opinion that primary education should be fully catered for before those experimental schools are established.

These questions, Sir, wo submit, arc of a; national character, as people will not live lv the country'districts unless reasonable educational facilities are provided for the children,' arid, to make matters worse; those who leave the country for the town usually have sufficient cash to purchase a home, and thus drive some one out who is less fortunate. There are at present a number of our residents who desire to sell up and reside in town, so that the hardships of the youngsters may be somewhat relieved. Judging by the feelings of the parents, there will be some pretty straight talk at the next deputation. As I have said before, Sir, we do not wish .to harass anyone, but we do intend to find out where the hold-up is, and deal with the situation in a constitutional manner. — I am, etc., C. H. EITZEMA, Bth August. '