MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 7 April 1927, Page 8

MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

VISIT TO TEMUKA. The Hon. It. A. Wright, (Minister of Education) and party, uiio are making a tour of inspection throughout cSoutn Canterbury, arrived in remulta yesterday afternoon by the lirst express rroin "the south. Accompanying tno Minister were Mrs .yVngnt and ins private secretary, Mr Deavoil. Tiie party was met at tho railway station Dy Air G. W. Annitagc, member of. tiie Canterbury education Boat'd, Messrs A. E. Simtn (chairman), G. FI. Clements (secretary), C. G. JL* laser (treasurer), M. e>\vap and J. Henry (members) of tne District High behoof Committee),, tho Mayor and Mayoress (Mr aud Mrs C. B. Cartwright), and Mrs G. \V\ Armitage. Tne party then motored to tiie side Watt-Lowrv School, wiiicii is under tiie jurisdiction of the Ternuka Committee, and is situated at the Salvation Army Boys Home. Here they were joined by Mr J. G. Gow, member of tiie Education Board, Mil C. Porter, assistant architect, and Mr A. E. Eawrence (editor of the “Timaru Herald"). The Minister and party were received at the well-appointed schoolroom by Stnti-Cuptain Holmes and the Messes Aiethven.

Mr A. E. Smith, chairman of the ScliooL Committee, introduced the Minister, and said that Mr Wright not only took a keen interest in educational affairs, hut ley alsut took great pleasure m meeting aud addressing school children. ‘'Before calling in tne Minister,” said Mr Smith, I want you boys to give him three of your heartiest cheers.”

Tho Minister, in the course of a short speech, which was couched in thesimplest of language, referred to tiie important part played by education, when: the ciukireit grew up and iiad to take their allotted place. There was much more required than simply being able to lead and write, ana iie felt, sure tmit all the healthy and strong boys assembled m the class-room that appreciated that. He knew that the boys would not object to a holiday, andj he was going to suggest that they get an additional halt-uay at Easter time. He felt sure that tins would be an inducement for -them to work harder. iie wished tlier well, and he reminded them that the teachers were their best nicnds. (Applause). Special cheers were called ter, by the Munster; for the chairman and the committee, tiie Mayor, and Mayoress, Start Captain Holmes and tne start, the Education Board, Mrs Wright and the visitors. Tne boys sang their rollicking song, “Don’t get down-hearted, Cheer up, Cheer up," just jinor to the party s uepartuie.

A visit was next paid to the Ternuka District! Hign school, the High School pupils being lined up on euner side of the entrance in tiie playground ana the primary school children assembled at lue south end of tiie mam budding. The M'iih.s.enal party were received! by Mr K. Malcolm, headmaster. Mr Smith introduced Mr wrigut, ana sued that they were pieusea to receive such a distinguished visitor who held tho highest position that anyone could attain to in the educational life of New Zealand. (Applause). Air Smith then/ apologised for the absence of All! T. D. Burnett, Al.F\, who had to

attend a very important engagement mahe prior to receiving notice of that day’s meeting. Mr AlalcoJm said that they were all very proud to see the Minister of Education there that day. Such visits to Ternuka _ were about as frequent as Royal visits, but they were just as welcome. He congratulated Air Wright on liis appointment, which carried a vast amount of responsibility, but said lie was ’sure that the ship would be safely steered through the troubled waters, with such a capable man at the helm. He hoped that the Minister would not forget the claims of Ternuka, and he knew that the Department always helped committees who tried to help themselves. At Air Alalcolin’s call the assembled children then gave the Ternuka school greeting, “Tenni Nga, Tamaraki, ltna Haeremai, Flaercmai, Haeremai!” (Behold the children of Tcniuka, welcome, welcome, welcome.) Tho Mayor extended a very cordial welcome to the Alini-Aw, and to Airs Wright. He congral i Air Wright on his appointment, . -;aitj that his presence that clay testa,. .1 to the great interest which Air Wright took in the welfare of the children. The people of tho Dominion were greatly pleased to have a man of Mr Wright’s ability as Minister of Education. So far as the Education Board was concerned, practically everything the School Committees asked for was granted, with tho result that when the present alteration to the building were complete, it would be one of the largest in the Dominion. (Applause). Ah' G. W. Armitage said that in South Canterbury, very keen interest was taken in the cause of education. They were proud of their local school committee, who laboured untiringly to promote the welfare of the- primary school, and who worked hand in hand with both the Education Board and the teachers. That was one reason why the schools in South Canterbury were so good, and why so many men, who received their early training in the district, were now prominent in the educational world. Ho needed only mention Alcssrs Strong and Bell, the heads of the Education Department. They all knew that Air Wright had many different problems/ to solve, with regard to education, but they were glad that lie thought tiie primary school system was the basis of the educational structure. (Hear, hear). Although it has been thought at times that self sacrificing work of the school committee had nob been fully recognised, they felt that they bad in Air Wright a Alinister who was truly sympathetic towards them. He was not one to be lavish with promises, but they could depend that what he promised he wuld fulfil. He sincerely congratulated Air Wright on. his appointment as Alinister oi Education. Air Wright would have an uphill fight at first, owiug to his inheritance of a legacy of promises, but lie felt sure that Mr Wright would carry out his duties with honour to himself and tho country. Air Wright said that he had noticed that the school was more than holding its own both.in the primary and in the secondary department, and he had been greatly impressed with tho interest displayed in educational matters by the people in South Canterbury. The building was of tli eold-fashioned type, but the present alterations would make a tremendous difference-. He then went on to reieii to tho difference between the old and the new types of school buildings, and said that in the old days, the idea, was to- build them like fortresses, with a minimum of fresh air and light. Now, however, it Avas all changed. Thei idea being to give the maximum of fresh air and light, as Avell as large playing areas. He paid a tribute to the Avorkj of the School Committee, who were ahvays planning and carrying out improvements to the buildings aud grounds. After entertaining ' the younger children rvith a simple story from which a lesson was.to be derived, Air Wright asked for a. show of! hands, as to whether an additional holiday was desirable. In declaring the motion carried unanimously, the Minister said that he Avould aslc Mr Malcolm to grant an extra half-day at Easter. In conclusion, Air Wright said that next to their parents, their teachers Avere

their best friends, and urged them to! concentrate on their work. A number of special cheers Avere called for by the Alinister, and on the call of the chairman, a special cheer Avas given, lor Mrs Wright. The ministerial party then visited tho school gardens, which Avere looking extremely well, the dental clinic surgery, and the manual training centre, 'where Air Wright displayed great interest inspecting the drawings, woodAvork, and Avorld’s timbers, wlucli lie said Avere very line, and lie congratulated instructor Mr R. C. Roberts, on tho excellent facilities provided for the training of the boys. The party then repaired to the openair class room, Avhcre they Avere liospitnblv entertained by the teaching staff. Mr Smith, on behalf of the visitors, thanking thd ladiea fol the hospitality extended to the party.

A DEPUTATION. The Alinister, members of the Education Board, and members of the School Committee then adjourned to the Technical School, where the question of a drainage scheme was brought before the Alinister. Air Smith said that the time Avas passing quickly, and no- doubt the Minister Avas expecting some request from the School Committee seeing that a wire Avas sent him to visit the school. Ho (the chairman) lirsii of all, desired to especially thank the Alinister and his Department for the financial support given during the past tivo years, which had enabled the committee to carrv out extensive improvements to file "school. The dental clinic, which has been established just over a year, was proving a great asset. The open air classroom was also a great benefit to tho infant children, and they were proud to state that the publics of Temuka subscribed £2OO towards the cost of erecting this building. The work now being carried out at the main school, Aviien finished, Avould bring the school, which Avas built 43 years ago,into line Avith some of the most up to date schools in Canterbury, and they wore very grateful to the Department for the grants to carry out the Avork. They Avere iioav anxious to improve the sanitary conditions of the school. At present it was a very crude system, Avhicli everyone kneAV Avas very much against the health of the children, especially at a school Avhere the roll number numbered nearly 500. The scubol Avas situated outside the drainage area, but the Alayor assured them that the drainage system Avould be carried out in the very near future. To enable the committee to carry oip, the installation of the improved sanitation, he Avould request the Education Department, through the good offices of the Alinister, to promise the committee sufficient funds to) carry out the necessary work. The -Alayor said that a sewerage scheme for the east end of the toiVn had Seen before the Council for many years, and they had at last brought forward a scheme which was suitable as it included the churches and schools. There Avas a certain amount of hardship of the ratepayers, as the churches and schools Avere not rateable properties, but notAvithstanding that, the poll had been carried. • Air Clements said that something had to be done. There Avere something like 500 children at the school, and lie thought that it Avould not be advisable tcv again call on the people to assist to pay the cost, as they had already contributed something like £2OO to the open air school. The Committee therefore, Avould like the Department to boar the Avhole of the cost-. Alri Wright said that he had listened to the chairman very attentively. He had been very much impressed with the efficiency of tho schools, and ho could say that tho dental/ clinic room was equal to anything he had seen anywhere in Netv Zealand., Ho had been informed by Air Malcolm that the openair classroom tvas giving every satisfaction. It Avas also very' pleasing to fear that the people/ of the district had contributed £2OO for this room. The Mayor-, laid stated that the poll for tiie loan liad been carried, and it sad a great deal for tliei ratepayers concerned considering the amount of untateabie property in this area. The proper channel for such applications as this was through the Board to the Department, and if tho Committee nut in claim to the Board, it Avould com# before the Department Av-ith such recommendations as the Board Avould see fit to make, and these recommendations would then he considered by the Department. H could assure them that they would do Avhat they could, as sanitary conveniences were of the highest importance. , The chairman thanked the Minister ftr the courteous hearing he lia<| given them, and said he felt that the Department would grant an;< recommendation put to it by the Board. Tiie Ministerial party left for the north by the second express.