MORE ROOM NEEDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 135, 10 June 1925, Page 13

MORE ROOM NEEDED.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE PLANT.

PLAXS FOR EXTENSION'S. CONSIDERED QUITE INADEQUATE. Xot once or twice, liut many times, has the need for extended accommodation at the Seddon Memorial Technical College been brought before the notice of the Government and the public generally. The matter crops up at almost every meeting of the board of managers, and'last evening's gathering of that body was no exception to the rule. At a recent meeting of the. Executive Committee, plans for the extension of the accommodation by the provision of additional rooms on the roof, and also for the erection of an assembly hall, were submitted hy the Public Works Department. The plans for the additional floor provided for three class rooms in place of the seven asked for. The Department was of the opinion that the day classes were already sufficiently large, but the committee pointed out that the evening classes were growing at a very rapid rate. If Ihe increase over 1924 be continued next year, it would be necessary to find at lcastsix additional class rooms for evening students. The plans for the additional accommodation indicated that it was proposed to erect a. temporary wooden addition on the roof, and members of the executive, were convinced that that proposal was entirely unsatisfactory. 1 owing to tlic fact that it was merely a temporary expedient and insufficient to provide even for one year's increase in numbers. Moreover, one of the chief reasons for asking for additional accommodation was the necessity for making safe the rooms in the present top storey by over-covering the present roof. The proposed additions left a large portion of the roof still exposed to the weather, and would not remove the existing danger. It was pointed out that provision had not been made in the extensions for either a library or physical culture room for girls. The director represented that both should be considered essential parts of the equipment of the Technical College. Assembly Hall Unsatisfactory. In respect to the plans submitted for the assembly hall (Gsft hy 38ft), seating accommodation was proposed for 520 pupils. It was recommended that accommodation for not less than 800 pupils be provided. The roll for the day school was 760, while the evening classes enrolled about 1200. The. committee proposed that the Minister be asked to retain the original width of the hall, namely 57 feet, in order that provision might be made for the extension of the rooms underneath for typographical classes. After careful consideration of the plans, the members of the executive committee satisfied themselves that the provision proposed was totally inadequate, and recommended that the board endeavour to meet the Minister of Education in conference during his visit to Auckland this week. Last evening's meeting adopted the committee's recommendation, and also decided that other questions be submitted to the Minister.