MARLBOROUGH SCHOOLS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19587, 6 September 1933, Page 8

MARLBOROUGH SCHOOLS

CHANGE OF CONTROL WANTED “TIRED OF INEFFICIENCY” By Telegraph—Press Association BLENHEIM, Sept. 5. The Blenheim School Committee recently passed a resolution favouring the Marlborough Ward being included in the Nelson Education District instead of in Wellington district, as at present. As a sequel, some plain speaking was indulged in at a conference last night between the Blenheim Committee and representatives of the Wellington Education Board who are visiting Blenheim. Mr T. Forsyth, chairman of the Wellington Board, said the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, chairman of the Nelson Board, had outlined the Nelson proposals to him, asking him to treat the matter as confidential. However, he had ascertained that three or four days before the Wellington Board could have considered the matter Mr Mclntyre had circularised Marlborough committees. “It was hardly fair to circularise members of school committees in my district three or four days before I had had a chance of putting the matter before my board,” he commented. “Regarding the Blenheim Committee's attitude, Mr Mclntyre assures me that neither here nor in any part of the district did he ask a single soul to support his proposal. You will be able to say whether that is correct vr not.” Mr J. Barry, chairman of the Blenheim Committee: It is correct. Mr Forsyth continued, “Mr Mclntyre also told me that he told you your buildings were a d disgrace. I retorted that he did not have a Minister of Education such as he had, who was fair and reasonable, no doubt, especially in regard to his own district.” Canterbury’s Attitude. Mr Forsyth referred to the report that the Canterbury Education Board had decided to support the Nelson Board’s request to be ceded a portion of the Canterbury district and the Marlborough Ward. "There again I was rather nonplussed,” he observed, “because Canterbury is not a Board I speak without any feeling—that is prepared to give very much away.” However, he had since ascertain'd that the Canterbury Board, on the casting vote of the chairman, decided that Wellington should lose the Marlborough Ward, but Canterbury should remain as at present. "Well, it seemed rather Gilbertian,” he said. “They might as well have asked the Auckland or Otago Boards to link up with Nelson. It was a case of spilling the last drop of jour brother's blood but saving your own skin. They have decided not to cede any portion of their district to Nelson, but are quite prepared for another board to give up Marlborough. There agaiu I do not think it is playing the game between board and board. One thing certain is that unless Nelson get part of Wellington or Canterbury it cannot carry on."

Mr Barry accused the Wellington Board of neglecting the Blenheim schools's requirements, emphasising the fact that'for 11 years they had been trying to get a new infant school. He described the present building in scathing terms. He referred to leaky roofs at the main school and the earthquake risk which had been reported on by the department. Other requirements were sanitary and washing accommodation, etc. "We are so tired of the inefficiency of the Wellington Board that we voted to be transferred to Nelson," he said. No Knowledge of Report. Mr Forsyth replied that the infant school had been held up because the £6OO promised locally had never been; forthcoming. He also indicated that this was the first his board had heard of the other matters referred to. He had no knowledge of the Public Works Department's earthquake report on the school. His board had never seen it. but if the report were of such a nature as stated, the Minis--ter who had it made was criminally liable for not havtng the necessary work authorised. “I am surprised and disappointed,” he said, “that this committee has never taken the representatives of the board into its confidence, has never asked them on one occasion to be present at its meetings, has never asked them to attend to these dreadful matters that have been wanted for the last 15 years. Have you ever, as chairman, invited them to come?” Mr Barry: They know who the committeemen are when there is an election coming along, but after that they forget there is a committee. Ilr Forsyth: That is only begging the question. A long conference ensued, with many sharp interludes.