HALCOMBE SCHOOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 97, 23 March 1940, Page 8

HALCOMBE SCHOOL

QUESTION OF REBUILDING. Further reference was made, at the monthly meeting of the Wanganu Education Board, on "Wednesday, to the need tor the Halcom'ue School to lx rebuilt, and it was decided that t h attention of the Minister of Edueatioi (Hon. P. Fraser) be again drawn to the matter. If the response to this is not considered satisfactory, a deputation is to wait on the Minister to press the subject. A special committee appointed previously by tile board to meet tin Halcombe School Committee reporteJ having done so and stated that, after the committee had seen correspondencj between the board and the Education Department and the Minister, the.' were satisfied with the actions of ths hoard. Hon. J. G. Cobbe. replying to l question as to whether he had state! that it was the hoard's fault that the school hnj not been replaced, state! that he had formed his opinions oji statements from the committee and i letter from the Minister. The secretary (Air G. N. Boulton) reported that he had written to Mr Cobbe saying it was unfortunate that His opinions had been formed without a knowledge of the board’s side of the question. A precis of the official correspondence of the board on the matter had been sent to Air Cobbe. The Alinister of Education advised, in reply to a letter from .the board, that the subject would receive his earnest attention. Air A. S. Coleman said he had scon the Halcombe School and thought tbit the Alinister's reply was “mt enough.” Mr AV. H. Brown said that the first four items on a list of urgent works sent to the Minister were so urgent that it was a disgrace to the country to leave them any longer. The board should send a deputation to interview the Alinister. The chairman (Air E. F. Hemingway) agreed with the feelings expressed. In fairness to the Alinister. however, it had to be remembered that lie had boon engaged in a recruiting tour for the last three or four weeks. His hands had been very full. At the same time, when the hoard sent a letter dealing with a matter of such vital importance, and received a reply like that, it should do something to bring the subject further before the Alinister. He moved that- the Alinister’s attention be called to the board’s latest letter arid that his immediate action Ix 3 sought, the board, meanwhile, realising that iiis hands were full but seeking action on the score of fairness to the children and the hoard. Air Brown seconded the motion. Mr Aludford commented that- ths people of tile Halcombe district were determined to hold a public indignation meeting if action were not taken. This motion was carried and. on the proposal of Air P. Munro. it was decided that if the Alinister’s reply is not considered satisfactory the chairman and the secretary should proceed to AVellington to interview the AlinThe chairman commented, finally, that out of 30 urgent works sent forward only three had so far received attention.' At. this rate it would be ten years before all were attended to.