POLITICAL INFLUENCE

Southland Times, Issue 19097, 15 November 1923, Page 4

POLITICAL INFLUENCE

ERECTION OF A SCHOOL. INTERLUDE AT EDUCATION BOARD MEETING. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nocember 14. “Why is it that the board, considered te be the educational authority for the district, agitated for this school for eighteen months, did not get it, yet has not got the money all at once,” asked Mr C. I. Harknese at the Education Board meeting today when it discussed a grant of £1,400 for the erection of a school at Silverstream. “Certainly we have the money now, then why worry” asked the chairman (Mr T. Forsyth). > Mr Harkness. I think it is a mattei which the board should consider very’ seri* ously. Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.: Oh! Why make trouble ? Detailing his negotiations which had culminated in the grant, Mr W. H. F'eld, M.P., said that the Minister by inviting plans and specifications from the board for the school had promised a school. Mr J. J. Clark: What I don’t like is the fact that the board agitated for this echool for eighteen months. Nothing was done but as soon as political influence was brought to bear, the object is achieved. Mr Fields, as M.P., may congratulate himself very highly on his success, but Mr Field as a member of the Education Board has been very much slighted for eighteen months. The Minister raised the issue that the board did not [tush the matter as this school was the ninth on the list. You know that it is impossible to place schools in their proper ratio. They are all first. I strongly object to politics being brought into the matter.