PANMURE SCHOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22517, 7 September 1936, Page 16

PANMURE SCHOOL

OPENING CEREMONY PROGRESS OF DISTRICT TRIBUTE TO MINISTER

The progress and development of the Panmure and Mount Wellington districts were definitely marked on Saturday afternoon when the chairman of the Auckland Education Board, Mr. T. U. Wells, officially opened the new school, which from to-day will replace the old building as the seat of education in the outer suburbs. There was a large attendance. Mr. A. S. Richards, M.P. for Roskill, represented the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Eraser, who was unable to attend, and during the proceedings the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, arrived. The two candidates for the Manukau electorate, which embraces the district, Mr. A. G. Osborne, Labour nominee, and Mr. F. W. Doidge, National Party, were also present. In welcoming the visitors, the chairman .of the school committee, Mr. L. E. Mellsop, paid a tribute to the efforts of the former school committee and Mr. W. J.'Jordan in securing a grant for the new, school. Mr. Richards said the Minister and the Government Were fully alive to their responsibilities- in regard to education and their sincerity of good intention was revealed in the fact that the. education vote for the current year totalled £3,449,689, being an increase of £691,000 over last year. He read a message from the Minister, Mr. Eraser. Mr. Semple said it was the duty not only of the Government but of all citizens, to see that the children of the Dominion received a thorough and complete education that would equip them, as the citizens of to-morrow, to face intelligently and courageously the problems that were becoming more complex and intensified from year to year. In declaring the school opened, Mr. Wells'said that as a result of the increased education vote the Panmure school's incidental allowances would be increased by about 50 per cent. The Education Board had also decided to meet as far; as possible the committee's request for new desks for the school. This had been made possible by the grant of additional maintenance funds. Mr. Wells paid a tribute to the interest and enthusiasm shown by the Minister of Education in his work.

The school was inspected by the visitors and parents, who Avere impressed by its splendid lay-out and design.