NO APPRECIATION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4368, 13 December 1950, Page 8

NO APPRECIATION

EDUCATION PROBLEMS ISOLATED DISTRICTS FARMERS CARRY REMIT Educational authorities had no conception of the educational pirabitenis of those in isolated aMeas, said Mr G. C. Donovan, of Wih'emiakite aft the executive meeting at Thames recently of the Northern Thhunes sub-province of Federated Farmers. It was proposed to establish a district high school in his district. The inspector said it could' be at Whitianga, at one end of the district. That was the attitude taken. It had to be there or nowhere else, according to the inspector. ' Continuing' Mr stated that at Whenuakite a generating plant had been installed r with the, idea of providing pictures for the community. An offer had been made to exhibit educational films for the school. A school

could obtain a subsidy for the purchase of a projector but there was a, fiat refusal to do anything in tite "way .of subsidising a projector yp-tyhfrgad .privately to screen pictures for the children. The only generating (plant was privately owned. Tf the projector was purchased through the Auckland! Education Board there was a subsidy of 50 per cent buit the projector became the property of the committee. In reply Mr Donovan said he did not expect the same subsidy for a private concern. There was, however, no power available for such a purpose if • the school committee pdrchased the projector. Mr Dohovan accordingly moved “that we urge the Minister of Education to provide better educational facilities for the rural population.” There was no appreciation, of the position at all, said Mr Donovan. Mr T. T. Jones expressed the opinion that there should' be decentralisation of the education board’s control, It would assist if the Auck- - land area was reduced’ into two districts and the headquarters of one . was at. Hamilton. The motion was carried.