EXCHANGE OF SECTIONS.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17387, 27 March 1928, Page 5

EXCHANGE OF SECTIONS.

OLD SUBJECT RESURRECTED. HIGH AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. FURTHER DISCUSSION DEFERRED One of the principal matters which came up for discussion at the Thames High School Board of Governors meeting this, morning was a, question of very old standing, that of whether an exchange could be arranged between the Board of Governors and the. Auckland Education Board, representing the controlling authority of the Thames Technical School, of the sections upon which the various buildings stand. Briefly, the position is that the High School stands on some of the Technical school'land, and the Technical Schoo stands on • some of the High School, land.. The bone of contention appears to be a matter of frontage. Dr. J. B. Liggins, presided over the following members:—Rev. J Milne, Messrs. J. Howe, H. R. Bush, J. W. Danbv, S. C. Muir, A. Burns, C. F. Donovan, and J. Kernick (secretary). The matter was introduced by the secretary, who mentioned that it had been the subject of previous discussion and read the minutes dealing with the matter in 1914, when the committee set up had got the matter as far as agreeing to an exchange, providing cei> tain rents were remitted. The chairman considered that after all this time the matter might be finalised. The secretary suggested * that the Itwo bodies concerned get in touch with - their solicitors with a-view to having the necessary documents drawn up to go •on with the exchange. Mr. Donovan said that /he remembered the previous action—the whole matter was an extremely intricate one ancf in his opinion it would be better to leave matters as they now were. After all, it was really the position that no matter whose-ground the buildiangs -were on it was for the education of the children of Thames that both buildings were 'working. The chairman mentioned that he understood that there had been a certain amount of opposition to the matter in the past, but that this had died away. ... - " Rev. Milne: t don't.think the matter is worth a legal action. It would he better to defer it. Mr. Kernick: There is, of course, 'the possibility that a failure to finalise the matter might, be regarded in the light of a dereliction of duty by the boards concerned. Mr. Bush suggested that the question of exchange might be bound up with the Board's dealing with the Auckland 'Education Board over" the Waiorongomai. school. Mr. Donovan again emphasised his opinion that the matter would be- as* well left unopened, since neither body was likely to give way to the other. Rev. Milne: I think we'd better let well" alone.

Mr. Donovan remarked that his idea of the first alternative would be the amalgamation of the whole of the bodies governing education in the town. In his opinion -it was absurd for a small town such as Thames to have three separate bodies governing post primary education with the High School Board, the Technical Board and the School of Mines. '.. , -

' Mr. Bush considered that the Technical School would be better under the control of the High School Governors, if neither would give way. The chairman said that there had been a proposal for the School of Mines and the Technical School to amalgamate, but he understood that this scheme was further off fruition than ever now.

Mr. Donovan remarked that a conference between the Minister for Mines (Hon. G. J. Anderson) and the Minis, ter for Education (Sir James Parr) had failed to reach any agreement, and there was,less likelihood still of the Board's even over little things. . "' .*--V Rev. Milne: Haven't you got a sense of humour? "Can't you see that the littler the bigger f A member: No; I'm Scotch! Mr. ■ Danby: If the trouble is only the basis of exchange, surely.the matter may be made the subject of negotiation. It is not a matter of ownership that is in question, only the basis of exchange. Mr. Donovan: It would be much easier to exchange control.

Onjthe motion of Rev. Milne furthei discussion of the matter was de*ferred sine die.