KEREONE SCHOOL.

Matamata Record, Volume XI, Issue 933, 2 July 1928, Page 3

KEREONE SCHOOL.

ANNOYING DELAY.

History of Negotiations. Having gone through the usual two years of barren promises Kereone settlers have hopes that this year, with an election in the -offing, will see the long-overdue school erected in the district. It has not been for want of trying that the district has not been better served. Ever since 1922 the school committee has been battling, but against the apathy and apparent disinterest of the Auckland Education Board their efforts have been of no avail, and there is no immediate prospect of the much-needed work being carried out. '

In 1922 the committee was advised that there were not sufficient funds to build a school at Kereone, but a teacher would be supplied. Accordingly the settlers erected a hall which was rented to the Education Department for 12s 6d a week. Subsequently the rental was increased to 15s. It is in this totally inadequate building that the Kereone children are now taught. Cold and draughty in winter, with a small grate that serves only to accentuate rather than alleviate the cold, it is utterly unsuited for teaching or , learning. And for six years the Government has been paying 12s 6d and latterly 15s for rent, amounting to over £2OO, whereas had a proper school been erected in the first place this sum would have been saved and the children would have been decently housed. There are now 40 children on the roll, and there are 100 children nearing school age.

After the hall had been erected in 1922 the settlers carried on for some years, but the disadvantages were so great that the committee wrote in .925 requesting the erection of a school. The Education Board replied that the matter had been referred to .ts advisory Four months .uter a. further communication was received to the effect that the board still awaited the inspector’s report. Nothing further was done, and in April, 1926, a reply to a letter from the .committee stated that the officer was expected to visit the district in a few weeks’ time; In May he was still corning. A letter dated August, 1926, was to the effect that the inspector would report when he got particulars from the committee •chairman of the tv/o sites suggested for the school. The particulars were sent and two months later a sketch of the site recommended by the inspector (Mclntyre Brothers’ property) was asked for, also an intimation that a valuation officer would inspect. In November the board stated that the architect had furnished a plan and estimate for a school and as soon as a Government valuation had been secured the school would be erected.

The next letter from the board queried the price asked for the four acres. Did/the committee think it was fair? The committee did and .replied to that effect. At this stage of the interesting negotiations the Welfare League, a body of settlers who were unsuccessful candidates at the school committee election, waited on the board and protested that the school would be better' situated at Aitken’s corner. The board’s reply to this was that the householders would have to decide. Then ensued “ the battle of the sites,” when two factions had a sta,nd-up verbal fight as to which site was the more suitable. Finally a block vote was given for the central site.

This decision was communicated to the board, and in May, 1927, the committee was advised that the matter had been referred to the senior inspector for a report. The committee protested against this action as the matter had already been decided by the householders. The next month the board wrote that the inspector had recommended Mclntyres’ site as being the most suitable, and this had been approved and a grant would be asked for. Three months’ silence, then 'the committee was informed that a grant had been allowed by the Department, but that £7 10s per acre less than was asked would be given for the property. In view of this quibble the owners withdrew their offer.

“ The advisory inspector will again report,” was the burden of a further letter from the board. Mr. Dunlop came down and selected a portion of Mr. R. Ramsay’s property, close to the hall, which was the committee’s first choice. In February, 1927, the board advised that a grant had been made for this property. In April, after constant urging by the committee, the board wrote that matters had sufficiently advanced to allow the calling of tenders. |fhe committee

replied that once before it had been to;d that plans and specifications had been prepared but no move had been made. The urgency of the matter' was stressed, and immediate action was requested. Last month the board wrote that “ everything possible was being done,” and* since then nothing has been done.

The committee is now disgusted with the whole business, especially with the side-stepping and delay of the Education Board. A few days ago a letter was sent to the late member for -the district, Mr. C. E. Macmillan, setting out the facts and requesting him to help the committee to secure the much-needed school. It is to be hoped that the persistence of the committee, which has the welfare of the .children at heart, will triumph. The one small bit of silver lining to the cloud is that it is “ election year.”