ON AN OLD PLAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 250, 4 August 1941, Page 6

ON AN OLD PLAN

HEATING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. SOME ROOMS) LEFT OUT. V , BOARD TAKING MATTER UP. It was stated at the meeting of the Ashburton High School Board this morning that the installation of the new heating system, just put in hand, hgd been based on a plan of the building many years. old, which did not show all the classrooms, and in consequence some of the later parts of the school had been left out of the installation. The Board decided to draw the attention of the authorities to the position. In his report to the Board* the Headmaster (Mr E. A. Cockroft) stated that the contractors had commenced work on the new system. It seemed that the work to be done covered only half the school. He . was under the impression that the whole school, including rooms outside the main buildings were to be included. By the plans this did not appear to be so. He had notified the engineer in charge and he was making inquiries from the Public Works Department. If no alteration was made, the school would have three systems of heating. Mr Cockroft added that he had seen two of the engineers, who were of the opinion that the whole school was to be attended to, but it seemed the work was being carried out on an old plan and the authoi'ities did not know where they were. Buildings Not Dealt With. The chairman said it seemed that the work was being done on an old blue print plan of the school, this being one reason for the incompleteness of the installation that had been started. No provision had been made for the Friedlander Hall, the girls’ laboratory and the two detached buildings. Mr Smith said the plans should have been submitted to the Board before the work was started and he moved that the position be pointed out to the Director of Education.

This was seconded by Mr Orr and was carried.

There were present Messrs W. H. Woods (chairman), N. Robilliard, E. H. Ory, F. Frampton, G. C. Nicoll, H. C. B. Withell, D. H. Moore and Stanley Smith. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £451 14s 2d. The report of the two inspectors who recently visited the school was presented to the meeting and members expressed satisfaction with its terms.

The Education Department wrote that before teachers were granted leave of absence to attend Home Guard refresher courses they should be informed that deductions from their salaries would be made during the time they were absent. Members were of the opinion that the regulation was not a fair one, and that when any member of the staff was affected the question should be taken up with the authorities. The Headmaster's Report. The Headmaster reported that there were 130 boys and 99 girls on the roll. This i was four less than last month, the drop being caused by transfers and employment. Games against Timaru Boys’ High School were played last month. Both the senior and the lightweight were lost. Basketball games were also played in Timaru in a tournament, the contesting teams coming from Waimate, Temuka, Ashburton and the secondary schools of Timaru. Some games were won and others lost. Tw* inspectors paid their annual visit and they had prepared a report. Farm Report—During the month a number of loads of cinders had been carted for the track, which had been very muddy by a result of the frosts and arrangements had been made for the carting of a further quantity. There were a few lambs, but the majority of the ewes had still to lamb. The sheep had wintered well. As was the custom on Arbor Day, the School would plant a number of trees for shelter purposes.

The school would close for three weeks from August 22. It was decided that as the school will be in recess at the date of the next meeting, the calling together of the Board should be left to the chairman should business warrant it.