GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20860, 16 October 1937, Page 3

GERALDINE

VISIT OF MINISTER OF EDUCATION SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMME “We want to help to the fullest extent possible,” remarked the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, when questioned by a representative of “The Timaru Herald” after hearing deputations at both Departments of the Geraldine District High School yesterday morning. “I am very much impressed with the disadvantages under which the headmaster, Mr J. J. McGuigan, and his staff, carry on the infant work at the Primary School. I would like to remark that I have been very favourably impressed with the work, appointments and organisation at the Secondary Department,” concluded the Minister. The Ministerial party heard deputations from the Geraldine District High School Committee urging the erection of a technical building, the provision of an open-air infant room at the Primary Department, and the conversion of the existing infant room at the Primary Department. The committee also urged the erection of a new dental clinic at the Primary School grounds. It will be recalled that the manual training centre was destroyed and the dental clinic damaged by fire on June 29 last.

The party comprised the Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, his private secretary, Mr P. J. .G. Smith, the Director of Education, Mr N. T. Lambourne; Mr G. W. Armitage, representing the Southern Ward of the Canterbury Education Board; Mr G. Bignell, the Board's South Canterbury foreman, and Messi's T. D. Burnett. M.P., and D. Barnes, M.P. They arrived from Lyttelton by motor car at 10 o’clock, and were the guests of Mr A. M. Fyfe, chairman of the Geraldine District High School Committee, and members of the Committee at morning tea at Mr Fyfe’s residence at Raukapuka. After morning tea the party proceeded to the Secondary Department at Raukapuka, where the children were lined on either side of the entrance to the school grounds. Addresses to Children Addressing the assembled children, Mr A. M. Fyfe, expressed his great pleasure at welcoming the Minister of Education and his associates. He intimated that later they would make a few requests, and he trusted that at the end of the day there would be two satisfied parties—the Ministerial party, which he hoped would be pleased at having seen such a fine body of children, and the School Committee and parents at the prospect of having much needed improvements made at the School. Mr Fyfe expressed the opinion that the Department of Education could be regarded in the terms

of a large commercial company; the Minister was the chairman of directors, and the Dir*cto:- of Education, Mr Lambourne, was the manager, while Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., was the commercial traveller. (Laughter). Mr Fyfe hoped that at the end of the visit they could look forward to some very satisfactory improvements to help the School along. Mr Fraser remarked that his party comprised almost vs many, more or less, as the number of assembled pupils, and he was hopeful that the visit would be a pleasant one for all concerned.

In referring to Mr Fyfe's analogy, Mr Fraser remarked that he did not like the reference to Mr Burnett as a commercial traveller, which he had thought quite wrong. He thought that the members of the House of Representatives were more in the nature of a Boa -d of Directors as they held an important position. As elected members they were responsible for the control of expenditure, and, if for example, expenditure was proposed in Mr Burnett’s electorate which he felt .was unwise or extravagant. Mr Burr.itt would say so, and ths House would no doubt agree with his views. The elected members of the House of Representatives had the power of voting money, and thus when he had afiy vote to propose as Minister of Education he wanted to spend every penny wisely and in the most profitable manner. The Departmert of Education and the Education Boards might make certain proposals, but in the last degree the House of Representatives had the final say. Perhaps his remarks had been a lesson in civics which the children had not expected to hear. In his concluding remarks Mr Fraser said that his visit recalled happy memories of a W.E.A. camp at Geraldine in 1925. when h: had come in contact with some jf the local teachers. In his opinio" Miss D. Famle (Mrs Slater), who as then in charge of the Geraldine Secondary Department, was really one of New Zealand’s best teachers. Gerald! e was very fortunate in its environment, its town, its trees and its climate, and it was secoi.d to none in ■he Dominion, with the beautiful down-lands sloping towards Peel Forest. Geraldine was fortunate in its teachers, s'nd the teachers were fortunate in their pupils: he could tell that by one l«>k at them. His party wer? delighted to be present, c. 'd they one and all were deeply interested Li the cause of education, and they hoped to see what they could do for the benefit of the children. Mr D. Barnes remarked that although he and Mr Bu/nett thought on quite different lines in politics. It did not mean that they would both -ot ' do their best for education in New

Zealand. It was the s.one as two different people describing their impressions of a picture. Mr Burnett would see that picture in a different light to what the speaker would, and, consequently, would probably act differently from him. However, that did not mean that Mr Burnett did not have ideals; they all had ideals and tried to work them out to the best advantage, and he assured Mr Burnett that anything he could do to help him in educational matters in the Temuka electorate he would be only too pleased to do so. Mr Barnes continued that in the present Minister they had a man who would alter things, and they were entering upon a new era as far as education was concerned. In introducing the Member for Temuka, Mr Fyfe expressed appreciation of the efforts of Mr Burnett on the Committee’s behalf in regard to improvements at the School, which had culminated in the visit of the Minister. “Prime Canterbury" Mr Burnett replied that he was clad to be able to visit them in company with the Ministerial party. He congratulated the School on the splendid looking boys and girls, who could certainly be described as good specimens of “Prime Canterbury.” They w ere now part and parcel of a nation, as New Zealand was no longer a dependency or a colony, but a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and he urged them to become worthy successors to the good old pioneering stock who had built up the country. In New Zealand they had the most beautiful country and perhaps the best climate in the world, but he feared that perhaps for that reason they must guard against the danger of becoming soft. The children were most fortunate ' i their teachers, so he urged t em to play the game and to see that the sacrifices of their parents "id teachers were not thrown away. Cheers were then given for the Ministerial party, and the children were then dismissed for the afternoon. Lack of Accommodation The party then adjourned to the teachers’ room where representations were made to the Minister. In extending a cordial welcome to the Minister and party, Mr Fyfe mentioned that he had been asked by the Mayor, Mr B. R. Macdonald, to associate the citizens of Geraldine in the welcome. Mr Macdonald was not present as he understood the Ministerial visit was purely in regard to educational matters. Mr Fyfe expressed a hope that something would be done to help the cause of education at Geraldine. In referring to the Secondary Department, Mr Fyfe mentioned that the number of rooms was Inadequate for the number on the staff, and he invited the headmaster (Mr J. J. McGuigan) to explain the position. Mr McGuigan mentioned that there were three permanent teachers and three rooms, but the school now taught the academical course, the farm course, and home science and a full commercial course. This meant that there were always four teachers in the afternoon for three rooms, and some of the children had to take their lessons in an open corridor. He did not wish to ask for anything unreasonable, but they could do with a little more room, as one day a week there were five teachers taking classes. Important Subjects The Minister: The farm course and the home science course are two most important subjects, and in addition you have a full commercial course. To do that work adequately what actually do you require? Mr McGuigan: W now have 80 pupils in the Secondary Department, and there is every prospect of between 35 and 40 new entrants next year, and on a most conservative estimate there would be at least 25 new pupils. If another room were provided, a teacher could use that room which would ease congestion a little. The agricultural instructor was anxious to have a small workshop erected. They had teen asking for a small forge for a considerable time.

The Minister: I am very sympathetic towards these adjuncts. A boy is all the better if he learns to use his hands. If he learns to make gate hinges and other iron work of use on a farm, he will find it invaluable in later life, and it should be part of his education. However, I do not see that all these things can, be done at once. My alm is to spend any money as advantageously as possible. In reply to a question Mr McGuigan mentioned that as the commercial instructor had but recently commenced his duties, there were only 14 pupils at present, but he xpected a large increase next year. > “Wholesome Environment” The Minister: The School looks good; there is a wholesome atmosphere and environment. Mr McGuigan: I am fortunate in having a very good staff. During the epidemic, when the school had been closed, the teachers had done the lessons every day by post. The Minister: I think, as a matter of fact, that you we-e one of the first schools to apply for permission to broadcast the lessons. Mr McGuigan: It happen that conditions were ideal for local broadcasting. The Minister: What was the difficulty? Was it not gone on with? The Director of Education: It was not our objection that permission for the granting of a permit to broadcast the lessons at Geraldine was refused. I think it was the Post and Telegraph Department who were responsible. Mr McGuigan: My staff rose to the occasion wonderfully well, and It made me feel quite proud of the teachers. The Minister was asked if it would be possible to secure the services of an additional subsidised unemployed man for the gardening work at -he two schools. The present man was engaged for three days a week which was nothing like sufficient to cope with the work. The Minister replied that it was a matter for the School Committee and the Education Board to thresh out. The capitation had been Increased by 50 per cent., but it was just a question of what could be done. During his term as Acting-Minister the Hon. P. C. Webb had asked the Department of Education what could be done in that direction as the maintenance was really for a Governmental institution. However, if they agreed to pay out enough for two men, there would be hundreds of similar applications from schools all over the Dominion. He advised them to appeal to the Education Board in the matter.

Mr Armitage: The Minister has made certain funds available to the Board to assist committees who are in difficulty. Perhaps the Board could give some help. The Minister: It is better to pay a man for working rather than to let him be idle. The Board has a certain amount of reserve funds. It is better for you to fix the matter up with the Board. The party then proceeded to the Primary Department, at Cox Street, breaking their journey at the temporary dental clinic in Talbot Street, where the Minister showed a keen interest in the work of the dental nurse, Miss Baird, who was attending a young patient. Transfer Suggested As was the case at the Secondary Department, the children lined the entrance to the Primary School grounds in Cox Street. The Minister chatted for several minutes with some of the children, inquiring whether they enjoyed their daily ration of milk. A thorough Inspection was then made of the school, the Minister complimenting several of the teachers on having painted the tops of the desks and the cupboards in green. Bright curtains made by the teachers, whose pupils had contributed towards the cost of the material, also aroused Mr Fraser’s favourable comment. After a thorough discussion the Minister expressed the opinion that it might Ite wise to transfer Standards V. and VI. to the Secondary Department, even if it meant the provision of two or three additional rooms. Mr Burnett recalled that the original idea when the Secondary Department had been built was that there should be a farm school at the Raukapuka site. The area was sunny and dry, a decided contrast to the Primary School site. Mr McGuigan: The chief problem is that of securing bright sunny accommodation for the infants. The Minister: Ultimately I think the whole lot shoul 1 be at Raukapuka. It makes me doubtful about the wisdom of building here. Mr J. Baguley, on behalf of the Geraldine District Dental Clinic Committee, asked if the Minister would regard the building of the new clinic as an urgent matter, as in order to reach the temporary premises the children had to go down to town and cross the main north road which was unsafe for small children.

Before the party left for the Winchester School, en route for Pleasant Point, the Minister said that the representations made would receive careful consideration and the School Committee would be advised in due course.

“THREE LIVE GHOSTS" Sparkling comedy, shot through with moments of thrilling excitement and tender romance make the screen play of “Three Live Ghosts” screening at the Geraldine Municipal Theatre tonight unusual entertainment. Dealing with the adventures of three soldiers who returned from the war to find themselves officially “dead,” the plot concerns their humorous wanderings through London without names or identities. Their roles are played by Richard Arlen, Charles McNaughton and Claude Allister. Beryl Mercer as a gun-tippling Cockney mother, is superb in the role she first created on the stage. Tire Hilton Miniature Rifle Club will hold its end-of-season dance and presentation of trophies in the Hilton Hall on Tuesday. The Pleasant Vrlley Tennis Club will hold a dance in the Pleasant Valley Hall on October 23. Ex-pupils who have not received an invitation to the Geraldine School ReUnion on October 23, 24 and 25 are asked to communicate with the secretary, Mr W. A. Sherratt. The winning numbers in the Country Queen compeitions are advertised Members of the Bth Squadron, S.C.M.R., N.Z.E.F,, 1914-18, are invited to attend a Re-Union at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, October 23, at 8 p.m. Mr E. Cholerton, Optical Specialist, proprietor of Procter’s, the Opticians, Christchurch, will be visiting Geraldine personally, and may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Crown Hotel on Wednesday, October 20, from 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Appointments can now be made by ringing Mr Morris Williams, chemist, ’phone 61