DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20956, 20 August 1931, Page 11

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

TREATMENT IN COUNTRY.

COMPLAINT ELICITS RETORT

RESIDENT'S INDIGNATION

A reply to comment made by the Director of Education, Mr. T. B. Strong, on the treatment he received when he visited the Katikati and Waihi districts recently was received by the Auckland Education Board yesterday from a member of the Katikati School Committee residing at Athenree. The writer, Mr H. Steele, said he was surprised to read of the unfair reflection cast by Mr. Strong upon the Katikati committee and the householders of Athenree. He had received a telegram from the director advising him that he would be at Katikati and Athenree on July 22. He went to the Katikati station in his motor-car, not knowing that on the previous evening the director had telegraphed to the headmaster of the school asking for transport from Tauranga to Katikati, Athenree and Waihi. As no member of the committee in Katikati had a car one was engaged and sent to Tauranga. The writer went on to say that later he told Mr. Strong his car was at his disposal to convey him to and from Athenree. Mr. Strong declined the offer and said he had made arrangements to go in one car right through to Waihi. As a total distance of 92 miles had to be covered by a car to oblige Mr. Strong and his party, it was rather unjust to expect a struggling farmer to do this free of charge for the convenience of one of the highest paid officers of the public service. The letter continued :—"As for the reflection cast upon the householders of Athenree, the first suggestion of Mr. Strong's to erect another school at the northern end of the district was, to put it bluntly, 'sat upon.' A practical suggestion that if a house were available at the northern end of the district a married assistant teacher could live there and drive a school has to Katikati met with unanimous approval. "After the meeting with the director, afternoon tea was served and we thought we had Mr. Strong in a good humour. I must say that his miserable reference about having to pay for a car and his most unjust reflection on the hospitality and fairmindedness of the Athenree residents are quite uncalled for." It was decided to forward the letter to Mr. Strong. Mr. E. C. Purdie said he understood that. Mr. Strong had been in direct communication with the Waihi School Committee regarding a new school there to replace the one destroyed by fire. That should have been done through the board.

The senior inspector, Mr. J. Robertson, said there was a proposal to establish an intermediate school at Waihi and the matter was one of policy. The secretary was instructed to advise the director that the board would be pleased to be referred to in such matters in future.