MANAIA SCHOOL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 April 1925, Page 4

MANAIA SCHOOL.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION

Advantage was taken of the presence of the Minister of Education at Eltham yesterday for members of the Mann ia School Committee to interview him in respect to some work undertaken by it at the school grounds, on which it was afterwards barred by regulation from receiving a subsidy. The members of the deputation were Mr. J. Dakers (chairman), Mis. A. F. Gamlin (secretary), and Air. O. Parry (member of the committee), and they were materially assisted in putting their case lie fore Sir James Parr by members of the board who were present. They were introduced by Air. O. Hawken, AI.P The subject of the interview was put in detail by Air. Dakers, and in brief the statement made was that in 1923 a large sum of money, totalling £4ll, was raised by means of-carnivals to provide for various works at the school, and these included the provision of a piano and seats, levelling and grassing grounds, building concrete fence, purchase of, pictures for infant room, and establishing a library. The committee completed, all but the last two items, because it had spent all its money on the others and was debarred .by regulations from getting a subsidy on the money spent on the concrete fence. The committee considered that as the fence was a distinct and ' lasting improvement to the Department’s property it should be entitled to a subsidy. Air. S. Gl Smith, AI.P.. said that the committee had raised the money in the belief that it would all bear subsidy. Mr. P. J. White added that the committee wanted its fence to be in keeping with the fine school, and he believed that at that time, 1921, such expenditure was entitled to subsidy. However, the committee did the work in good faith, and the money was economically spent and a good job made. He was chairman of the board at the time, and the work of the committee was done with the approval of the board. The Minister: Unintentionally the board misled the committee.

Air. A. Lees also urged the fact that the committee had done the work in good faith. The Minister said that under no regulations did the Department encourage spending so much money on a fence, and lie reminded them of The position that would be created if 2900 committees did the same. No |Departent could subsidise costly fences, for there was so much needed for buildings, and the Departmental answer would very properly be “No.” He complimented the committee on their success in raising such a large amount of money, and that was a point which weighed* with him. Naturally he would like to see contracts made by boards honoured, and therefore he must try to find a way out of the difficulty. An offer was made 'by the chairman of the board that it would pay £2-5, and the Atinister promised that in view of the extraordinary circumstances lie would do the very best possible, foi' the Alanaia Committee. The chairman tlnyiked the Alinister and the board very heartily for their help, and the Minister chaffinMy said he hoped the committee wonm not build another fence like the one it had or he would censure it severely.