A DUAL PURPOSE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20038, 20 September 1930, Page 7

A DUAL PURPOSE.

HALL USED AS SCHOOL. fcEQUEST TO EDUCATION BOARD. About nino years ago, the residents of Redcliffs subscribed £4OO for the purpose of a community hall, the building being erected on the school ground. As»the attendance of the school grew, the older buildings bocame boo small to accommodate the scholars, with the result that the hall tvaa used as the main structure. It has been apparent for some time, however. that s the building was unsuitable for the dual purpose, and a move was set afoot to use it solely for teaching, this being ultimately agreed to. Yesterday a deputation from the residents and the local school committee waited on the Canterbury Board of Eduoation to ask tho assistance of that body in approaching the Department, with a view to its remitting the amount mentioned to the residents. Mr D. F. Oldridge stated that it was not-considered right that the building should bo used .for social functions in the evening and for teaching purposes in the daytime. A good deal of work was involved in removing the school furniture every time a social gathering was to be iiola, and afterwards. There hud been occasions, he proceeded, when two saoks three parts full of empty bottles were taken from the precincts of the building nfter a dance. Such a sight was not pleasant for tho scholars, "ft 1$ a most undesirable thing from the point of view of school lifo," ho said, adding that the deputation would appreciate the assistance of the Board in any endeavour made to dissociate the hall from the school. Mr A. Holden said that the residents would iika back from the Department the mohey they subscribed for the erection of the building, without the interest On it, of course. The position was that if a move were made to erect another community hall, the residents would ask what had become of the former stim subscribed. Mr H. P. Le Page said that if the money was roturnod to the residents it could servo as the nucleus of a fund for another .community hall. In answer to questions asked bv members of tho Board, it was stated that when the then Minister for Education (Sir Jas. Pflrr) was approached with a request that additions should bn made to the Rodcliffs School to accommodate the growing attendance he suggested that a community hall should lie erected. All the correspondence relating to the matter was in ihe-possession of the secretary of the School Committee. \ "\ Thi' chairman Of the Board (Mr W. A. Banks)- It is a difficult thiug indeed to get anything back from the Department when once it' has been handed over to it. Mr o. S Thompson said that there was ho doubt that a community hall should be separate from a school building, for the reason that the'eonduit at social functions was not always what it should be. It was decided, on the motion e>f Mr W- TP. Spencer, aeconded by Mr J, Wild, that the Board to the request of the Committee.