DEPUTATION TO WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 16 April 1908, Page 8

DEPUTATION TO WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

At last night's meeting of the Wanganui Education Board a deputation from Manaia, consisting of Messrs Hunt (Chairman of the Manaia' Technical Committee) and J. K. Law (headmaster; of the Manaia school), attended with- reference to, the proposed addition of three rooms to the Manaia Technical School/ • .J . i Mr Hunt stated that the deputation wished to impress, on the Board the f act that technical . education had advanced, so much , in" Manaia that it was imperative .additional and more suitable .accommodation .should, be provided for present" and prospective students. The, grant made by the Education ' Department, even with the amount subscribed locally, was insufficient, and a future grant would be highly desirable. ' Mr Hunt pointed out the suitability of Manaia as a technical school centre, as it was able to draw upon the surrounding townships for students. It was besides a desirable place for the establishment of. a High School. Mr Law laid before the Board details, concerning what had been done in the past in regard to technical education in Manaia, -what' was being done now, > and ; what was proposed for the future.^ He impressed upon the Board the favorable results obtained in , Manaia, and the local efforts put forward in 'regard ■to subscriptions, and contended that, considering the magnitude of .these and comparing them - with what had been done elsewhere, Manaia was entitled to more consideration than it, had received. The Chairman (Mr F. Pirani): All this won't help the grant. Get down to bedrock I How many pupils have yoU ; • how many rooms do you want ; what money do you want? Mr Law said there were 125 pupils. They had £130 now, and expected to raise.it to £150, but wanted £735. >- The Chairman pointed out that the best way to get a grant was not to interview the Board alone. The depu.tation knew that a lot of work of interviewing had to be done outside the Board. If they could .impress the Chief Inspector with the desirability of their claims, and also the Minister for Education, they would no doubt get what they wanted. The Board was willing to further anything it could in regard to technical and secondary education, but considered the first was of more importance. After some desultory discussion, the Chairman advised the deputation to forward an application showing the number of pupils (with their names) who would attend a High School. Mr Law: Then we may take it that the Board will do what it can? The Chairman: Providing you can satisfy. the Chief Inspector, the Board 'will, do all it can. The science room will be built at once; the other rooms will be added as soon as the Government provides a grant for the work.