SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATION.

Northern Advocate, 6 January 1937, Page 3

SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATION.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Mr Chatham's letter regarding schools consolidation is written in a typical manner, beginning with personalities and ending with half-truths. I said that the householders of Ruakaka definitely turned down the proposal. If a majority of householders in Huakaka want to consolidate with Waipu, I would fall in line, but not on a vote of only those with children, going to school. Why is it that Mr Chetham, whose position in regard to children has not altered, has npw taken a hand in the consolidation movement? There was a consolidation scheme in vogue long before Mr Chetham had any'hand in the movement, and although he claims to be a keen supporter of consolidation, he did not believe in it for his boy, as he refused to send him to Ruakaka by the bus. This was • put off the road through ■want of support, and when he was asked to send his boy he said it wofild not hurt the children to walk three miles to school. I always worked for a bus service for the One Tree Point children until there was not sufficient support at One Tree Point to run the bus, and then only did I try to get a school built on the One Tree Point j road. I have never criticised the bus i or the driver, but I still contend that to take small children approximately fourteen miles to school in four or five buses when they can have only the same education, for a time, that they are having at Ruakaka, is like herding them into trucks like cattle, more especially when those who want higher education could be taken to Whangai'ei more economically. Mr Chetham calls me a versatile gentleman, but he should be careful, as he lays himself open to criticism owing to the roles he has .played in the past. I am, etc., J. CROMPTON. Ruakaka.