JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18170, 16 August 1922, Page 10

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

CONFERENCE AT WAITOA.

MOTOR TRANSPORT QUESTION. [BX TELEGRAPH. —OWN CufcBESPONDENT.] TE AROHA. Tuesday.

At the instance of the Waitoa School Committee, delegates from tho school committees at Te' Aroha. Morrinsville, Waitoa, Brookfield, Tatuanui, Elstow, Springdale, Waihou, and Ngarua' assembled in conference at Waitoa to discuss tho possibility of having a junior high school established in the district, preferably at Waitoa. Mr. H. Poland, M.P. for Ohinemuri, was present bv invitation. The chairman of the Waitoa Committee, Mr. D- Anderson, said that while in Wellington he had laid the project before the Minister and had since written to him elaborating tho proposal, which would entail bringing tho children of the required age from the surrounding district* to a centra! school. He considered Waitoa ideally aituated. Figures bearing on transport and based upon the use of electric motor-lorries —such aa are used at the milk-powder factory—-sshowed that if Morrinsville and Te Aroha were included about 500 children would be available. Five trucks, each seating 14 or 16 children, would be necessary, and each truck would cost about £1700. Running costs would be about £600 per annum per truck. Thus the cost would bo roughly £6 per child per annum, or Is 3d per child per day. Mr. Poland said the meeting could rest assured that the Minister would not do anything in a hurry. He was not committed to establish a junior high school at Matamata, aa had been assumed, and he* had informed the speaker the previous day that he would first visit tho districts considered to have claims for selection before a decision was reached.

Finally the, following resolution was carried unanimously:—"That tho need for tho establishment of a junior high school in this district be affirmed and that tho selection of a centre be left to the department's expert advisors."