COMBINED SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 67, 16 September 1936, Page 4

COMBINED SCHOOL

WAIRARAPA ISSUE

BOARD MEMBERS CRITICISED,

(Special to the "Evening Post.") , MASTERTON, This Day.' The attitude of members of the Wairarapa Secondary Education Board towards the decision of the Minister of Education to amalgamate the Waira- ( rapa, High School and the Masterton' Technical School came in for some; caustic criticism at a meeting last night of the Technical High School Association. Mr. L. J. Taylor, chairman of the board, was present, and members of the association openly expressed disappointment at the attitude adopted by Mr. Taylor and five other members of the board elected on non-: j amalgamation tickets.

After a lengthy discussion a resolution was passed, to, ;'be forwarded to the ■' Minister, regretting that the Minister' had "adopted -'^such an autocratic attitude", in amalgamating- the two schools against the wishes of a large majority of the public of Masterton, and stating that the association dissociated itself from the attitude of the Secondary Education Board, a majority of the members of which were elected definitely, to oppose amalgamation. The resolution was moved by Mr. B. lorns and seconded by Mr. J. Fenton. The '.chairman,' Mi|. G. Selby, presided. '

During the course of discussion Mr. Taylor said: "Why should the Technical School children suffer when those attending the High School have everything?, I have ■ been fighting against amalgamation for years, but finally took the bull by the horns and decided that amalgamation would-be better for all concerned; better than remaining static at.any rate." y Mr. Taylor went on to say that he waS more than hopeful that the cbmbihed ' school would turn out to be a success;- '■.;He;said he was quite satisfied that'had'the board objected to the Minister's decision it would not have dpne..'the' slightest good.