COUNTRY EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18943, 14 February 1925, Page 11

COUNTRY EDUCATION.

THE PROVISION OF SCHOOLS. "BETTER SERVED THAN EVER" ATTENTION TO, BACK-BLOCKS. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. Suggestions that the country districts are not getting a fair share of expenditure in the establishing of new schools was re ferred to yesterday by the Minister for Education, Sir James Parr. " There is no foundation for any such suggestion," declared the Minister.' " On the contrary, the Government's policy is to give special attention to country wants and particularly back-block necessities. Never has the Education Department done so much for the black blocks and small settlements as in the last two or three years. Take the Auckland education district, for example, The Auckland Education Board, in co-operation with the department, has taken the utmost interest in the provision of educational facilities for the people resident in places remote from the centres." During 1924, he stated, the Auckland Education Board had established schools in private buildings at the following places, the number of pupils being shown in parentheses:—A waroa .River (4), Graham's Beach (11), Haunui (3), Kourawhero (11), Motutara (14), Oliuka (8), Oraka.u (8), Orero (8), Orua Bay (5), Owhiwa (3), Taneatua Saddle (30), The Wires (6), Waingaro (14), Woodleigh (12), and Whenuapai (9). In addition, the board erected school buildings at the following places, the averages attendance being shown in parentheses : Awanga (10) Donnelly's Crossing (29), Hauturu (19), Hoo-o-tainui (to be opend), Kaiavva (17), Ma it ah i (23), Mangawarn, (to bo opened), Orongo (16), Opouteko (11), Richmond Downs (13). Tahuroa (20), To Hntewai (15), Te Karae (23), Waiare (10), Waiotama (13), Waitoki (25), Maiiawahe (9), Waingarara (21), and Mangaotaki (17). Further, said the Minister, several country schools were enlarged, £4389 was spent 'in convoying country pupils to schools, and £896 was spent on the board of country children who were obliged to live away from home in order to attend school. Then there were correspondence classes. At present 524 children, from isolated country districts, were receiving tuition through the Correspondence School in Wellington, and the joint report of the chief inspector and Mr. T. IT. Wells showed that most, satisfactory results were being obtained. "What is being done in the Auckland district is being done in other districts," Sir James concluded. " I can confidently assert that the country districts arc getting the best treatment they have ever had."