Minister of Education Visits Te Arakura

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 111, 13 May 1939, Page 2

Minister of Education Visits Te Arakura

TEACHER’S RESIDENCE ASKED FOR For some time past the Te Arakura School Committee has been concentrating on an endeavour to have a teacher’s residence erected. Two appeals have been made to the Wanganui Education Board and recently, when it was learned the Minister of Education would be in the district, arrangements were made through Hon. J. Cobbe to have the Te Arakura School included in the itinerary. Hon. J. Cobbe with school committeemen and a number of householders and children, were present at the school on Thursday afternoon to welcome Hon. Peter Fraser and members of the Wanganui Educatiou Board. Mr. Cobbe introduced the Minister to those present, Mr. J. J. Hume (chairman) extending a welcome. Mr. J. . Hume in stating the case for a teacher’s residence, said the present headmaster was a married man and the only residence available had been the old Awahuri School residence. This was built 63 years ago and was now in a state of disrepair. For 26 years the school had been built but the need for a residence had not been felt till last year which ended Miss W. Bailey’s long term as headmistress at the school and Mr. E. S. Baker was appointed headmaster. He did not think they had worried the Education Board over much; in fact had done a good deal for the school themselves. The school roll now stood at 61 and it had been up as high as 75. Mr. P. Hansen, who for a long term acted as secretary, gave a list of what had been subscribed to the school by residents over the whole period of the school’s existence.

The Minister of Education congratulated the school committee on tbe fine tennis court and the general appearance of the school and grounds. He thought for a small community the residents’ record of self reliance was unique.

The distance to the Awahuri resi deuce was not a bar but the house was admittedly unlit. It was not a question of the necessity of a residence but when it could bo done.

The Minister was thanked by the chairman who said it was the first time in the school’s history they had had a visit from a Minister of Education.

Mr. Hume also thanked Education Board members for their courtesy and help at all times.