By Anna Bowden Tauranga schoolgirl Samantha Laming is disappointed a man who signed a $10 pledge for her annual school fundraiser refused to pay up. The 12-year-old said he told her he would not pay for Otumoetai Intermediate's knowledgeathon because she was a staunch supporter of the Carlton St skate park. Samantha -who has her heart set on becoming a lawyer - had thrown herself into presenting a petition of 300-signatures in support of having the Carlton St skate park remain. Although not a skater herself, she presented her petition to Tauranga City Council last month. "If kids are using the skate park they are not at home watching the television and on the computer and it goes some way towards children keeping fit and positively kept busy," she said. "I was advocating healthy communities." Soon after this she took part in her school's annual fundraiser - the knowledgeathon - having earlier obtained pledges and signatures for sponsorship. Samantha scored 100 per cent in her test and was set to collect a total of about $50 from sponsors. But when she went to collect, one of those who signed a pledge refused to pay. Samantha said she was told by the man it was because of her support of the skate park, which therefore must reflect the school's position on the issue. She said: "I was representing myself and the views of the people who signed the petition, not my school ... the skate park and our school knowledgeathon are totally different issues. I thought that was mean-spirited." The sponsor who refused to pay was unable to be contacted but the Bay of Plenty Times spoke to his wife. She said the family was on a low income and could not afford to pay the $10. Her husband had signed the sponsorship form, not her. She denied that it was because of Samantha's support of the park.
