RIRA SCHOOL DELAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18189, 7 September 1922, Page 9

RIRA SCHOOL DELAY.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER.

" NO pNE TO BLAME IN MATTER."

Further reference to the charge of delay made against the Auckland Education Board by Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., in connection with the erection of a school at Rira, Te Kuiti, was made at the meeting of the board yesterday. The secretary, Mr. E. C. Purdie, read a letter from the Minister for Education, the Hon. C. J. Parr, stating that Mr. Jennings' question concerning school accommodation at Rira had been put without notice, and consequently he had no opportunity of looking up the files before giving a reply. "It seems quite clear," stated the Minister, "that no one was to blame in the matter, although the department had advised the board that it would probably be safe to undertake the risk respecting the title t 0 the land and get on with the building." The secretary further stated that the board's solicitors had advised that the title was not yet clear, and that they were doing all in their power to expedite the matter. Members of the board took exception to Mr. Jennings' subsequent reference to an "impertinent letter from the secretary of the Auckland Education Board, holding that such criticism of a highlyrespected and efficient officer was quite' uncalled for.