HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT.

Wairarapa Age, 14 March 1922, Page 5

HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT.

A DEFINITE MOVE. DEPUTATIONS TO THE MINISTER The immediate establishment of a high school in Masterton was the subject discussed at a meeting held in the Municipal Buildings last night, the Rev. G. T. Brown, M.A. (chairman of the High School Board ot Governors) presiding. There were about 60 people present, and keen interest was shown in the discussions, the opinion being emphatic and general that too mtn i time had already elapsed without anything definite transpiring, and that the establishment of the school was wanted without delay. A number of motion s and amendments were proposed, but it was eventually agreed that a deputation comprising the parents of pupils attending the secondary department of the D.H.S., together with any other deputation that might be appointed, should wait on the Minister of Education (the Hon. C. J. Parr) during his impending visit to Masterton. Another resolution wa s carried recording the meeting’s confidence in the Board of Governors, and calling on the Department to proceed with the erection of the school at the earliest possible opportunity. HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT The chairman said it was 18 months since the .Board of Governors had been formed, and nothing had been done so far as the public could see. They had had nothing from the Government in the way of finance, except the money from the lease of the school site. That meant* they were getting about £lOO from the £6OOO involved. Tentative plans had been prepared by Mr Mair (the Department’s architect), and had been submitted to the Department. They were still there, and nothing had been heard of them. Later the Department submitted a definite plan, which the Board, however, did nor consider suitable. A plan for a twostorey building was pi pared by Mr Mannings (the Board’s architect), but this was not passed by the Department. Since November nothing further concerning plans had been done. The Board had a definite promise of temporary accommodation, but had no pupils to put in it. In October Air Parr visited Masterton and raised their hopes by referring to Masterton as “tlie future Eton of the Wairarapa,'’ and promising to refer the matter of raising money to Cabinet. On the strength of MT Parr’s advice that money should be borrowed on belialf of the Government, at 6 per cent., the Board approached the Trust Lands Trust and received generous treatment from them. Numerous promises were also obtained from people willing to lend money. The present meeting wa s called to ask for the immediate establishment of the school. They should make the Government realise that Masterton was thoroughly aroused. Mr H. C. L. Robinson asked if the Minister would meet a deputation of parents of children attending and likely to attend the High School? The' chairman: We can only’ make the suggestion to the Minister and give him the opportunity to meet the deputation. ENEMIES IN THE CAMP. Mr Robinson then moved: “That ; t is desirable that a deputation of parents of children attending the District High School should wait on the Minister during h s vist to Master-ton.” Mr Robinson said it was 22 years since a move had first been made towards the establishment of a High School. Masterton was tne only town of its size that had not got a High School, and the only town with ouch a large educational fund. The reason the project was squashed was “because around this fund vultures were gathered who prevented it being used for the purposes of a High School.” Sir Francis Bell had done a definite thing in acquiring a site, but Mr Parr had come into power, and since then nothing had been done. There were enemies in the camp; it was useless to hide that fact. He (Mr F binson) was a single man when he s: ted agitating for a High Schoo:. He dropped the subject after bis d«. eat for the Trust, but he was taking the matter up again now because he had children of his own t educate. The Government had not fostered secondary education, and because of that it was not fit to hold office. Mr T .ambourne thought the motion should include the parents of pupils attend ; g the primary schools. OBJECTS OF DEPUTATION. M: F. J. Hunn eaid the motion shouid definitely state what the object of the deputation should be ;n interviewing the Minister. Mir Robinson said his idea was to let a subsequent meeting of parents decide as to what the demand© of tne deputation should be. Eventually it was agreed to add to the resolution the words: “for the I purpose of urgi ig the immediate e>- , tablishment of the High School.” ; Dr. G. H. Scholefield considered that tlie parents of children att* ing the Lansdowne and Masterton West schools should be included in the deputation. OVERCROWDED D.H.S. Mr D. A. Pickering meved as an amendment: “That this meeting oi parents of scholars in the secondary department of the Masterton District High School, and others interested in secondary education, while recording its confidence in rhe Board oi Governors, hepes that the Department will proceed at the earliest possible moment to the establishment of tlie High School. The demand for tlie school is evidenced by the. overcrowded state of the secondary department at the Masterton District High School, which is now numerically arger than a number of high schools in other districts which have been in existence for many years.” Dr. Prior seconded the amendment because the scope of the deputation should be enlarged. The meeting should show appreciation of the work of those who had shouldered the burden in the pa©t. Mr Robinson’ s motion might exclude from the deputation some who had done great work for the movement.. Air Robinson said he would rather

hi> motion were carried, and Mr Pickering’s amendment macle a separate' motion. Mr \V. H. Jackson said that by the term District High School was meant the pupils from the infant departments upwards. He took it that Mr Robinson meant by his motion the pupils of the ‘secondary department only. Mr H. M. Boddington advocated that Mr Pickering’s motion should bo supported. Sectional deputations should be appointed by'the present meeting and s hould approach the Minister together. Mr Robinson said he would withdraw his motion until AL* Pickering's amendment had been considered. This was agreed to and Mr Pickering's amendment became the motion and was carried. Mr Robinson again moved his motion in the following revised form: • That it is desirable that a deputation of parents of children attending the secondary department of the District High School, together with any other deputation that may be arranged, should wait upon the Minister on his impending visit to Masterton for the purpose of urging the immediate establishment of a High School.’’ 7 Thjs was seconded by Dr. Cook. Air T. Jordan said he would not support the motion if it meant that two deputations would wait on the Minister. A High School was necessary for the district, and unity was wanted if they were to attain their object. ONE DEPUTATION WANTED. Dr. Prior s aid that if the motion was carried ; and two deputations waited on the Minister there would not be a sense of unity. He moved as an amendment: “That the words ‘and any other deputations,’ should be deleted, and the words ‘and others interested’ substituted.” Air Robinson said he would again postpone his motion if Dr. Prior would make his amendment a motion.

Dr. Prior said he was prepared to move the amendment.

Dr. Scholefield §aid they were not making any headway. Dr. Prior’® amendment would mean that people other than parents might wait on the Minister, which was not desirable. Dr. Prior said that he had children of his own—prospective secondary pupils—and he represented hundreds of people in a similar position who had a right to be represented. Air W. Kemp said the deputation should comprise only parents of secondary school pupils. A REJOINDER. Mr C. E. Daniell said that Air Robinson had suggested that there were enemies in the camp. He had not mentioned his (Mr Daniell’s) name 4 but he might as well have done so. He was not afraid of anything that might be said against his stewardship. He had always worked for higher and academic education. He challenged Mr Robinson to mention the names of the alleged enemies, so that they might not be put on the deputation. The chairman: Mr Robinson did not mention names, so we had better leave the matter as it is. The amendment .was lost by 21 votes to 19, and the motion was carried. Air Boddington moved that a deputation consisting of the Board of Governors, together with any others interested, form a deputation to tho Minister. This was seconded by Mr James Allen, but was lost. Air Robinson moved that the chairman ask the s chool committees to appoint a deputation to meet the Minister, together with the deputation of parents of secondary school children. Air Pickering asked why Mr Robinson hadn’t been agreeable to include this in his resolution? Air Robinson explained that the parents of secondary school children were those who, according to the statute, were the only people recognised in the matter. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. THE DEBENTURES. The chairman explained that Cabinet had authorised them Last Saturday, to issue debentures of £5O and £lOO. The amount required was £7OOO, and the interest would be at the rate of 6 per cent. Air W. G. Lamb said local bodies were allowed to pay per cent., yet the Government would not grant the Board the same rate. Mr Boddington: In one case the local body is paying the interest and in the other case it is the Government. Mr Daniell said he hoped too much notice would not be taken of what Air Lamb had said. A better investment was not possible than that offered by the Board of Governors. The question was not discussed further. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair. TO ARRANGE THE DEPUTATION. At a subsequent meeting of parents of the pupils of the secondary department of the Masterton District High School the following committee, I with power to add, was set up to arrange the deputation to the Minister:— Mrs T. R. Barter, Airs Clarence Graham, Mrs A. Williams, Messrs T. Evans. J. L. Hughes, F. J. Hunn and H. C. Robinson.