FRESH AIR FOR PUPILS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 281, 27 November 1930, Page 10

FRESH AIR FOR PUPILS.

PABNELL SCHOOL PBOFOSAL

CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER,

The Open-air Schools League, at its aiinual meeting last evening, received ill offer' fro ill the Minister' of Education, the Hon. H. Atmore, to diecuss the type of school to be erected ill Para fell. The league had previously gained the support of the Para ell geliool Committee towards the proposal that an openair School to accommodate 400 to 500 pupils should be built On the newlyacquired site, stated the president, Dr. E. B. Gunson. The league had decided that a bungalow scll6ol would 'not.'be possible, and had prepared plons for a structure of the Derbyshire type, consisting of a double row of buildings open at the side without a corridor or a verandah. The chairman of the Edu cation Board, Mr. A. Burns, had also agreed with this plan, because [the ordinary open-air school would be too expensive to build in a closely-congcsfted area like Parnell. Mr. J. S. Fletcher, M.P., had written to Mr. Atmore requesting him to ask the board to obtain alternative prices for the two types-.

The. Minister replied that, though he was in favour of open-air schools, there were certain difficulties in the way. Adequate playing areas were , a first* essential and tile erection of a number of separate open-air buildings oil a restricted site' would cramp development. He said, however, that he would, be glad to discuss the matter with the Education Board when he was in Auckland on December 10, arid would also meet the league.

It was decided to send a copy of the plan to the Minister, and also to •arrange a meeting with him.