MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18990, 11 October 1923, Page 11

MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

VISIT TO SOUTH ISLAND. A FORTNIGHT’S TOUR. (From Odr Own Correspondent.) WELLING ON, October 10. _ On Saturday evening next, the Hon. C. J. Parr (Alinistcr of Education and Justice) will leave hero on a fortnight's visit to the South Island. On Monday morning he will receive two deputations in Christchurch, and will afterwards proceed to Oxford, whore he will meet, members of school committees in regard to a proposal for the consolidation of the public schools in the district. The suggestion is to close the smaller schools and transport the children by motor service to a central school at Oxford. Air Bur proposes to motor through the South Canterbury district, meeting the school committees in several centres for the purpose of discussing with them the school consolidation problem. At, the special request of Air T. D. Burnett. M.P., he will visit Pleasant Point. Albury, and Fairlie on Tuesday, and will speak at Fairlie in the evening on the same subieet. On Wednesday he will proceed to Tiniaru, visiting there the important Boys’ High School at (he request of Mr J. Bitchener, M.P. (chairman of the Board of Governors in Timani). He will receive a deputation from the War Memorial Committee in regard to a school memorial, and in the afternoon he will visit the other schools in the adjoining districts. On Thursday Air Parr will go to Balol.utha, where school matters will also engage his attention, and ho will visit the local High School. On Friday evening ho will bo in Invercargill with the view to inquiring into the possible use of the old hospital building and nurses’ homo for technical education. In his capacity as Minister in Charge of Prisons, he will visit the Borstal Institution. in which lie is much interested. Air C. E. Matthews (Commissioner of Prisons) will be with him during the whole of his tour. ’The Alinistcr will be accompanied by Air Caughley (the Director of Education). On Tuesday the Alinistcr will be in Dunedin, where he will deal with somo educational matters of local concern. It may bo .added that in some parts of the North Island recently visited by the Minister the people were keen for the establishment of consolidated schools. In the King Country three districts clamoured for the establishment of such a school.