COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18354, 21 March 1923, Page 9

COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

EXTENSION AT MATAMATA.

OVERCROWDED PUPILS.

[BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] MATAMATA, Tuesday. Two questions of necessary school extensions were put before the Minister for Education, the Hon. C. J. Parr, who visited Matamata to-day. In the first place, he inspected the local school, additions to which have been asked for by the School Committee. It was explained to the Minister that the scholars had only nine cubic feet of space, as against the minimum of 12ft. provided for in the regulations. The Minister said that it was necessary to settle the question as to whether it would be advisable to build on the site recently acquired on the western side of the town. He said that he would obtain a report on the subject and bring the matter before the Cabinet. A deputation of Wardville residents also waited upon the Minister at Matamata regarding the question of the purchase of a school site of four acres (an option over which had been secured) and the building of a school. It was stated that the building now in use was erected by the residents just over four years ago, to serve the needs of 25 pupils, but that there were now 70 scholars, under two teachers, who were working in the one room. Mr. Parr said that he was advised that the present building was too small, but that the price asked for the land (£6O an acre) was too high. The deputation assured the Minister that the price was a reasonable one for land in the district. Mr. Parr remarked that the amount that the department would be committed to would be £1262 for the building and £255 for the land. This was a large amount, but as he was assured that the site was the best in the district, and there was no chance of the price of the land being reduced, he would recommend that it be acquired, and a sum granted for a bui'ding.