KING COUNTRY SCHOOLS

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 340, 25 February 1911, Page 5

KING COUNTRY SCHOOLS

TE KUITI CHAIRMAN INTERVIEWED. Interviewed by a "Chronicle" representative yesterday, the Rev. R. Mitchell, chairman of Te Kuiti School Committee, repudiated the statement made by the chairman of the Auckland Education Board to the effect that settlers in the back-blocks were dilatory in making their wants known respecting school accommodation. Mr Mitchell said his experiencewas that when settlers wanted facilities for having their children taught, obstacles of all kinds were put in tneir way. The matter of referring their wants to the Inspector caused great delay, because in many outlying d'Stricfcs he only visited once a year, and in many other places not oftener than once in six months. He knew of cases where settlers had repeatedly asked for schools and teachers, but where practically no notice had been taken of their requests. If any attention was given, it amounted to referring the matter to the Inspector for his report, arid that was the last they heard of it. Mr Mitchell strongly favoured the proposal to hold a conference of chairmen of school committees in the King Country to discuss the formation of a new educational district, and considers it is the only feasible way in which the back-block settlers can get the consideration which they are entitled to.