NGAHAPE SCHOOL

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3277, 26 March 1931, Page 5

NGAHAPE SCHOOL

CONSOLIDATION PROPOSALS .- DISCUSSED. BOARD'S INSPECTOR VISITS' DISTRICT. Mr Pinch, inspector of the Auckland Education Board, visited Ngahape district yesterday in connection with the proposal to close the school there and have the children of that district conveyed to the Te Awamutu District High School". He was met by the school committee and a number of parents, and in the course of his remarks supplied them with all details in regard to the proposed change. Mr Finch was greatly in favour of the scheme if it could be brought about at no greater expense to the department than at present. He pointed out the many advantages enjoyed by the children ,at a school such as Te Awamuu, compared with the children of the average one-teacher school. From the point of view of education, there was everything in favour of the proposal. From the Department's point of view Mr Finch did not fail to observe that a considerable expenditure would be entailed if the Ngahape School is to be retained, both in regard the school itself, and the provision of a residence for the school teacher.

At the present time, he explained the Department is compelled to keep a watchful eye on the expenditure, and in the consideration of these proposals relative costs of a School -in the district as compared with the cost of any form of consolidation would have to enter largely into the final consideration. Just at the moment he was unable to estimate what the cost of consolidation would be, as there were so many factors entering into the consideration, but there was one thing, and that was that the Ngahape children if conveyed into Te Awamutu, would have to pass other established schools on the way. After consideration of all details a 3 explained by Mr Finch, those in attendance at the meeting re-affirmed their earlier decision in favour of consolidation, and the chairman of the school committee, Mr Benseman, was authorised to obtain a definite offer for the conveyance of the children, and to submit this information to the Board of Education in Auckland as soon as possible. This information -will go before the board in association with the report Mr Finch will supply to the board. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded Mr Finch for his visit, and also for the valuable information he bad placed at the disposal of the district. :