MINISTER FOR EDUCATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4816, 13 March 1918, Page 6

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION.

HIS TOUR IN POVERTY BAY. At the meeting of the Hawke’s Ba v Education Board on Friday last Mr G. F. Roach, the .chairman, reported upon the visit of the Minister for Education (the Hon. J. Hanan) to this district on the following terms : As the Board had requested the Minister’s personal consideration of the questions of (a) Motuhora School facilities, and (b) extension or removal of Tologa Bay site. I, together with the secretary, accompanied the Minister to Gisborne. While in that district the following schools were visited: Gisborne, Gisborne North, Gisborne East, Gisborne West, Ormond, Kaitaratahi, Patutahi, Makauri, Ngatapa, Matawai. Motuhora, Motu, Waorenga-a-hika, Tologa Bay. Tokomnru Bav.

The Minister met tlie School Committee and settlers at Motuhora, and after a conference undertook to provide a grant to erect a school on the understanding that the millers would provide the timber, that Mr Quirk would provide a site of five acres, and that the settlers would clear the site. At Tologa Bay tlie School Committee interviewed the Minister on tlie long unsettled question of allowing a public right-of-way through the school site. Tlie Minister later fully inquired into the whole matter on the ground and though he has made no definite promise it is understood that he will propose a scheme which will be satisfactory to the Tologa Bav settlers, the School Committee and the Board. While at Tokomaru Bay the Minister. visited tlie native and public schools and obtained the opinion of many of the local people as to Ibe advisability of amalgamating the schools. The Minister later stated that he had come to the conclusion that it was not- desirable to make any such amalgamation at present. The Minister was most interested in all lie saw on the trip, and I believe will now more fully appreciate the difficulties that tlie settlers in the back-blocks are called upon to suffer in connection with, school .'untie! s. and also tlie difficulty the Board had in administering the schools. The expressed himself as more than satisfied with the t’ne order and condition of tlie schools, apparatus and school sites. In the matter of Motuti-mi it «as decided by the Board to write a letter of appreciation to the Minister for Ipwork in this matter ; also a letter of thanks to Mr Quirk, the millers and setters of that district for their assistance in furthering the erection of the school. »