CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2684, 14 December 1909, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Correspondence on public .matters welcomed at all times, but it must bo distinctly'Understood that this , joutmil in in no way associated with the wpm ions of its 'correspondents; All letters must bo legibly written and inscribed on one side of tho paper only, otherwise they will not bo I ' published. An asterisk at the foot of a letter indicates that some portion hub been excised.J s

THE FORMATION OF A POVERTY BAY EDUCATION BOARD.

[To The Editor-.] Sir —A matter that should interest all parents of children attending schools in this district, is that of the formation of a soparate education board, having under its jurisdiction the schools in the counties of Cook, Waikolm, Waiapu, and Wairoa. There can be no possible doubt that such a. boaid would be of benefit to the district, m many ways, and its formation would mark another forward step in the educational schemes of this district At the present time, the Hawke s Bay Education Board district is divided into three wards—central, north, and south, the Poverty Bay district being in the north ward and having three representatives on the present Board. For such a large number of schools and educational _ interests- as are contained in this ward a representation of three is insufficient’, and without doubt retards, and will continue to retard, that educational progress which is of such vital importance to us. The only solution is an Education Board governing the Counties of Cook, Waikohu, Waiapu, and Wairoa.'. The present Board; exercises jurisdiction over such a large district, containing people, of such diverse interests, that one wonders, at the progress that has already been made. There, are much smaller education districts than that of Hawke’s Bay, in other parts of the Dominion, that are in a successful and flourishing condition, both financially and educationally. A comparison of the smaller districts is shown in the following table: —

It will be seen from the above that the districts of Grey and AYcstland, even if combined, are smaller in e\ery way than that for Hawke’s Bay. laken singlv, they are sure proof that a small area can be handled successfully. If it has been deemed better that Grey and Westland should be two separate educational districts, being, as they are, in much closer touch with one another than ive are with Hawke s Bav. how much- more necessary is it that this district should be divided. ’The financial aspect offers no obstacle, to my mind, to a separation — rather the reverse. The following table shows the amount of money received in the five districts enumerated above, and their balances at -the end of the year: — Receipts. Balance

Again the comparison stands every test, the smaller districts all showing a substantial balance at the end of the year. A study of their reports also shows that although having less money to handle than the larger districts, they have all done as much, and some more, for the great cause of education as their larger compeers. In Poverty Bay there are a number of educational endowments that should be held for the benefit of this district alone. At present the proceeds of some of these endowments go to Auckland and of the others to Hawke’s Bay. This is most unfair to us, and such a condition of affairs only goes to prove that an education board should be formed at once to have control of those endowments and to use their proceeds for the benefit of the education of our children, and not for the benefit of districts. with whom we have no interest, and who have no interest in us.

Tlie figures I have quoted are taken, from the Annual Report of the Educational Department for 1907, being the latest I have been able so far to obtain.—Yours, etc. J. C. E. TURNER.

'oJS 0 0 o °J V Q~ o §• X a O g Hawke’s Bay Grey Westland Taranaki South Canterbury 101 32 35 SI 76 0363 1468 1019 5006 5286 252 56 49 147 153

£ s d £ d Hawke’s Bay 54,946 0 3 33S9 0 6 Grey ,, 9.811 13 7 126 9 6 Westland 7,825 17 7 134 19 9 Taranaki 31,407 South Canter13 11 125 17 8 bury 34,764 2 1 4754 17 9