NEW EDUCATION DISTRICTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 30 March 1915, Page 4

NEW EDUCATION DISTRICTS

POSITION OF NELSON

DETERMINED STAND BY THE EDUCATION BOARD.

From the tone of a discussion at- today's meeting of the Education Board regarding the proposed new EducationDistricts, it was very evident that, so far as Nelson is concerned, strenuous efforts will be made to prevent it feeing absorbed in any other district and so losing its identity. It will be remembered that when the new education districts .were frrst proposed there were many protests ;•-arid- eventually a Commission was appointed to take evidence and report to the 'Government. Mr Gothard, referring- to the matter, said he thought the time had arrived when . the Board should, take steps to preserve its education district. If they did not show some energy in this matter they would deserve to lose it. The question was entirely in their* own hands. Greymouth had' suggested that part of the Nelson district should, be obtained 'and included in the West Coast district with headquarters at Greymouth. "This," continued Mr Go.thard, "would bo one of the biggest educational disasters in the Dominion; and we must use every effort to take steps to stop any interference with There was no place in the Dominion that the Government should support more than Nelson, as its very life depended on this district. It was not, however, a question of getting political influence, -but of showing that the administration of our education district had Ijeen so good, in the past that it'deserved to be maintained. * There was not the slightest need for losing our identity; and. if we did so it would be our own fault. He represented a portion of the district that would feel it very severely if -it were severed from Nelson, as they could not get ihetter treatment than in the _ past. The southern portion of the district intended' to make representations to Mr -Hudson, -M.P., on "the matter, and. also to pass'public resolutions. "We will do our share," concluded Mr Gothard, "and I hope no effort will be spared by the Chairman to maintain our present district." (Hear, hear). Mr Franklyn strongly supported, the remarks of £he previous speaker. The Board had a certain political power to work oil, and everything should be done to. maintain the present education district. • Tfie Chairman said the member for Nelson had assured -him that he would do all he could to assist the Board. Nelson had. long been a centre of education, and the first Education Act -.was based largely on the Nelson system. •Nelsoii had supplied some of the Reading men in New Zealand, and -this was doubtless due to the system of education adopted in the early days. There was no question but that the Board could place before the Commission a very strong case. Personally he would do everything he could to preserve Nelson as a centre of Education ; it would be a calamity if we were wiped out.