SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3809, 16 September 1936, Page 5

SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

TE AWAMUTU DISTRICT. MEETING OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE. A meeting of the central committee handling the negotiations for the consolidation on Te Awamutu of several of the neighbouring schools, with the consequential establishment of a junior or intermediate high school, was held in the secretary’s office on Tuesday evening, when there were present Messrs G. B. Melrose (chairman), A. S. Wyllie, J. A. Johnson, Williamson, Houston, A. T. Bryant, and S. H. West. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs A. G. Warburton, E. Wilson, and R. Godfree. The secretary of the Hairini School Committee wrote that at a meeting of householders held on 12th August a resolution in favour of total consolidation was carried, with only one dissentient. The secretary reported having acknowledged this communication, and forwarded a route suggested by the central committee for consideration. He had also pointed out that the central committee had decided to concentrate on those districts which had decided on consolidation for the purpose of the establishment of a junior high school, and Hairini could rely on the committee’s best efforts in assisting that district. The secretary reported h'aving made application to the Education Department for provision of five buses and alterations to the Te Awamutu school buildings to cope with the increased attendances, A copy had also been sent to Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P. Mr Wynyard . reported that Mr Warburton had recently interviewed Mr Dunlop, secretary of the Auckland Board of Education, and it was explained that the vote for education purposes from the Government was voted by Parliament in one sum, and that therefore application for buses or provision for additional class-room accommodation at Te Awamutu school should be made to the Auckland Board. He recommended that an up-to-date report and application for the buses, etc., should be made to Auckland. The meeting received reports affecting several schools, and all appeared favourable, with a high percentage of parents asking for consolidation, and then proceeded to discuss proposed bus routes. Special consideration was given to the position of Pukeatua and the white scholars attending Parawera native school, and it was eventually decided to omit Pukeatua from consideration at present, on the score of greater mileage, in view of the Board secretarys’ advice to the central executive committee to concentrate for the present on schools nearer the centre. When six bus routes had been worked out the total mileage was shown to be 193, and the number of scholars affected 275. The meeting decided to prepare a report incorporating these proposed routes for submission to the Auckland Board of Education as soon as possible. The chairman said that the petitions had already been lodged with the Board respecting the Tokanui Hairini and Parawera (white) children. He also suggested that the 14 Pukeatua tops could be brought right into Te Awamutu,. picking up the Parawera white children en route. Consideration was given to the distance a bus would have to travel, and the Board Secretary’s advice to concentrate on near-handy school areas. PROPOSED BUS ROUTES. Kihikihi.- —About 55 scholars. Mr Bryant favoured the driver being resident at the Kihikihi schoolhouse. He would start from the School, going out to the 121 mile peg on the Arapuni road, then back to Tiki Farm Road, along that road to Allen’s gateway (half-a-mile), back again, and via Brotherhood’s Road (8J miles), to Te Awamutu, passing through Kihikihi. Total run 26 miles. Daily mileage 52. No. 2 bus route would be from Te Awamutu to Kihikihi; from Meredith’s Corner go down to Sutherland’s Corner, then to Bathurst’s, and out on to the main Arapuni highway nearly opposite the Kihikihi School; thenco by the main road to Te Awamutu. Total run 61 miles. Daily mileage 13. Tokanui.—About 60 pupils. Mr Wyllie said the furthest point would be the Puketarata road (10 miles, and back to Ngahape turn-off, down Ngahape road to the school (31 miles), and back, straight to Te Awamutu via Kihikihi. Total run 27 miles. Daily mileage 54. He added that the driver (possibly a teacher), could reside at the Tokanui School, and by commencing the run from there the mileage would be greatly reduced. Te Rahu.—About 30 scholars. Mr Johnson recommended starting from Te Awamutu and proceeding via Paterangi road to W. G. Macky’s gate, thence to Main South Road via Ngaroto (6 miles), then half- a- mile Towards Ohaupo; return the halfmile and go down Te Rahu road to Churches’ corner, and on to Te Awamutu. Total run 12 miles. Daily mileage 24. Mangapiko.—About 35 scholars. Mr Melrose said the route should be from Te Awamutu along Pirongia road to the Hall Corner, up Schoo! Road to Frontier Road opposite Papesch's Road, and along Frontier Road to Te Awamutu. This route could be reversed if desired. Total run 11 miles. Daily mileage 22. Hairini.—Start from Hairini, along Puahue Road, to Kay’s Road, back to I.ong’s Road, down that road to Chamberlain’s Road and down Chamberlain’s Road; back to Long’s Road and on to Cambridge road as far as Storey’s Road junction; thence back to Te Awamutu by the Main Road through Hairini. Total run 14 miles. Daily mileage 28.