EDUCATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 22

EDUCATION

FROGRESS IN AUCKLAND PROVINCE. EDUCATION BOARD MEMBERS ON TOUR. WIIAKATANE, September 29. Members of the Auckland Education Board, the chairman, Messrs Banks, King .evonport), Bond (Hamilton), M’Kenzie (Whangarei), and Mrs Fcrver (Auckland), and Mr J. Farrell, the architect to-day toured the Whakatane County, which has 11 European and four Native schools, against one small school 30 years ago % The members left early this morning and visited Teaneatua, at Opouriao, once a cattle station supporting six persons. It is a bit of the first area cut up for closer settlement. There are now two schools, with ICO and 120 pupils respectively. Thence the party went to Ruatoki and back to Whakatane, and opened, a new infant school, which has cost £3500. There was a big gathering, and all the local body representatives were present. Mr Banks said that Opouriao was undoubtedly the finest valley in the dominion. He was much pleased with the trip. The new sclwol at Whakatane is one of "the finest yet, and is thoroughly modern. The board provided last year three infant schools in the Bay of Plenty, one at 'lauranga, which was opened yesterday, one at Whakatane, one at Rotorua, which is almost ready ; and Whakatane is growing so rapidly (hat the new school, which will accommodate 150, must take 200 pupils. Now a new school is already urgent. Air Banks said he recognised the need for educational facilities, but it was lucky he,rr?ade application last year, as he wouldVot have got the school" if he had waited until this year. He added that, the district potentialities at Whakatane must look ahead and provide a technical high school. He urged the citizens to take the matter in their own hands and find the money. He also advised parents to send their children to their own local high schools, where they were under observation, instead of sending them to Auckland high schools, which were overcrowded and under-staffed, even badly staffed. He added that dairy cows were going to be an important factor in the future of New Zealand. Beef and wool were uncertain. Meat would probably never recover, and wool would take a long time. Whakatane was the hinterland, and was one of the finest dairy countries in the dominion, and as its future absolutely depended on dairy cows, a farmer’s education was essential." The party left, for Rotorua at 4 p.m.