OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1922, Page 5

OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS.

MORE ROOKS WAXTZD. SUGGESTION BY THE MINISTER. The Minister of Education, Hon. C. J. Parr, met members of the Auckland Education Board in conference this morning and discussed matters of importance. The matter of the acquisition of Mennie'g Reserve was mentioned, and the building there of a school to take the surplus pupils from the overcrowded primary buildings of Newton *nd Grey Lynn. This brought up the question of overcrowding, and the matter of ways and means to increase the accommodation of pupils who were overflowing the accommodation of existing schools. It was suggested by Mr. Parr that the re-building fund at present in the hands of the Education Board should be used for the purpose of providing the newbuilding to relieve the Newton schools. He said the money for this fund was at present in the bank and -was not being used. It would come to the assistance of the department, and would not be put to an unwarranted use, provided the matter was considered carefully and cautiouely. The matter of bad location for the Huntly school, -which was satisfactory as a building but in a shockingly bad position, was also considered, and the Minister promised to look into the matter of having the site changed, the building of two rooms on a new site already acquired, and the shifting of the present school there. The discussion generally touched upon the matter of floor space, and the Minister, referring still to overcrowding, laid it down that only cases of urgency could be considered. It was mutually arranged that case 3 where less than ten square feet of floor space per pup:l was available should be considered as urgent. Hβ suejjested. with reference to the utilisation of re-building fnnd moneys to provide for overflowing pupils Iby new schools in congested areas, rtat ', the board should provide raonev, and 'he would endeavour to obtain the ' authority of Cabinet to subsidise the ; cash £ for £- I The remainder of the bus ; n»3g w*« J considered in committee.