LACK OF SPACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 65, 17 March 1936, Page 10

LACK OF SPACE.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE. GOVERNORS' COMPLAINT. MINISTER SYMPATHETIC. Several matters affecting the welfare of the school were submitted by Mr. J. A. C. AJlum, chairman of tlie Board of Governors of the Seddon Memorial Technical College, when the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Education, accompanied by Mr. A. S. Richards, M.P. for Roskill, visited the school yesterday.

Mr. Allum said that the site of the college was without doubt the smallest in New Zealand, while at the same time the roll number was the largest. In Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, the Education Department had.increased the playgrounds available for the Technical College students, but in Auckland practically no addition to the playground area had been made for 20 years, while additions to the class room accommodation had steadily diminished the area available. Unusual rules had, therefore, to be applied, as, for instance, one forbidding boys to run in the playground, while from time to time serious accidents had occurred, very often due to the inadequate room available. "Far more students arc accommodated in the buildings than the staircases and exits are intended for," said Mr. Allum. "In the main building there is one stairway, and it is obviously inadequate for ordinary use, and would probably be dangerous in an emergency. The same applies to the workshop block. In each case very considerable additions to the buildings have been made without any additions to the staircases and exits. The board considers that this should "be dealt with as early as possible." Exchange of Teachers. Urging the value of experience overseas for principals and teachers, Mr. Allum said that the board proposed to pay teachers' travelling, expenses if the Department paid theiy salaries, considering that this expenditure would be as useful as expenditure on equipment. Exception was taken by Mr. Allum to the Department's regulation requiring a boy wishing to take an agricultural or woodwork course to attend Mount Albert Grammar School or pay his own fare. .Mr. Alluni suggested that as a fate cost the Department - -the same the parents should choose tjie school. As tlie college attracted students from all parts of tlie province, the number actually boarding in town being between GO and 70, Mr. Allum suggested that the Minister should consider whether hostel accommodation should not be part of the equipment. The Board of Governors had no funds for the purpose, but considered that facilities of the college should be available for students from all parts of the province. > Review.of System. In reply, the Minister said that all the matters submitted to him would receive consideration. He fully appreciated the board's dissatisfaction with the area available "for playground and he would 'welcome'.any suggestion from the board for the'Vemedying. of the situation. As regards the provision of stairways and exits, which Mr. Allura had said wou.ld cost about £1000, he did not think that there would be any difficulty.

• The Minister promised to look into the question of train fares and also to examine the proposal for a hostel, but he remarked that similar applications had been received from all over tho Dominion, though none were from technical colleges. There were, he thought, more urgent matters for tho Government's consideration, such as the provision of schools in backblack areas.

While, acknowledging the benefits accruing from the exchange of teachers with overseas schools, the project would need careful thought, as it could not be local only, but should be .general throughout Now Zealand.

The Minister added that the Govern, ment was of the opinion that it was time that legislation bearing on education should be consolidated and the whole education system reviewed, and many of the points raised by the board would no doubt come under consideration when that was done.