THE AGITATION FOR A SECOND SCHOOL AT MASTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 674, 30 January 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE AGITATION FOR A SECOND SCHOOL AT MASTERTON.

An agitation is now taking place in Masterton in favor of a second school being established in that township. The present school is situate at the southern end of the town, near Kurupuni, and it is claimed by those who are agitating for a second school at the other end of Masterton that great inconvenience is caused by children having to travel such a loDg distance to school. The agitation was carried to such an extent that the recent school committee election was conducted upon the question, as a party question, whether or not a second should be erected. The result of the election was that four of the advocates of the proposal and three of its opponents were elected. At the Education Board meeting Wednesday, the matter was brought up. Mr Bunny said the present school was situate at the Kurupuni end of the town, and, no doubt, this involved a nasty wet walk in winter. Farther, the people up there had already had their talk and fight about it, and, as a consequence, letters and newspaper extracts were flowing all over the place. Then thesecretary to the board produced and handed round copies of a newspaper extract, by which it was shown that, although the central school opponents were in a majority on the new committee, as a matter of fact a larger number of votes had been recorded by a larger number of people in favor of the existing school). Mr Bunny moved that the £SOO proposed to be expended in additions to the existing school be set aside for the erection of a new school at the northern end of the town, and that meanwhile no steps be taken iD regard to the proposed improvements. The Chairman (Mr J. R. Blair) said notice of motion would have to be given, seeing that the board had decided to go on with the addi-

tions. Mr Bunny said in that case he would* give the notice of motion.' He pointed out that the committee recently elected were in a majority in favor of the new school. Mr Beetham, M.H.R., said he should not say anything about that, because his remarksmight be considered to have a political bearing. In such matters as these the agitators generally got into office. It must be borne in mind tbst the old school was situate at the same end of the town as the present one,. Mr Shaunon thought the board was already pledged in the matter. The Chairman said no doubt the board would build another school when it was required. Mr Bunny asked whether any tender had been accepted' for these additions. Mr Beetham said a tender had haen provisionally accepted. He explained that the whole affair had been put into the hands of a sub-committee, and Mr Blair and himself were the only members of it present when tenders were opened. Therefore they decided to provisionally accept a tender. Mr Bunny : Then at present thereis nothing done ? Mr Shannon looked upon the matter as fixed. The Masterton people, he thought, would be much better off {if they allowed the additions to go on, instead of advocating a new school, which probably would not be erected for a long time. Mr Beetham remarked that the board had no site at the present time. Rev Mr Paterson said theboard was committed. Mr Bunny said theonly thing was, that on Monday evening the advocates of this second school had elected a majority to the School Committee, and thepeople of Masterton were in the bast positionto judge, Mr Shannon said Mr Bunny’s pro—position would only have the effect of hanging the matter up. The Chairman pointed out that the board would have £4OO less for expenditure this year than it had anticipated^ Mr Bunny : Then we shall have to re-consider our expenditure. After a desultory discussion, Mr Shannon said if Mr Bunny was desirous of hanging the matter upfor twelve months, he (Mr Shannon) would second the motion. Mr Blair : And I won’t oppose it. Mr Bunny strongly opposed this* ' way of putting it. He was not desirous of hanging the thing up. Mr Shannon thereupon withdrew his observations. The chairman said no letter had been received from the present committee, but there was a letterfrom a member of it, Mr A. W. Hogg. Rev Mr Paterson : Is it an official commnuication 1 The Chairman : No. Mr Bunny r. Well, in frh a fc case, I * wouldn’t take it.. Mr Beetham said there seemed to be some doubt as to which party was the strongest. “We are quite prepared,” he added, “to take a poll.” Mr Bunny t Yes, but you have not got the powerHe suggested that a deputation from Masterton should be invited to interview the boards Dr Newman said Maßterton was a growing’ town ; was extending in the direction of the railway station. A new school would b& needed there almost immediately, and they might conveniently keep the £SOO proposed for additions, and by putting another £SOO toit, at the end of the year they would be able to erect a new school, Mr Bunny would like to see the matter pushed on furtherMr Blair suggested fthat the board ask the; committee to look out for a site. Mr Beetham did not like to see the school accommodation: remaining a 3 it was for twelve months. Eventually, Mr Bunny having suggested that they should have a deputation consisting of two from each party, and including the editors of the rival Masterton papers, it was decided that a deputation consisting of Messrs Beetham and Bunny and the Rev Mr Paterson should go up to Masterton and inquire into th& matter.