NEW BUILDING OPENED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22274, 13 December 1937, Page 16

NEW BUILDING OPENED

MODERN CLASS-ROOMS AT ELMWOOD

CEREMONY PERFORMED BY

MR HOLLAND

“It is my opinion, and I think the opinion of most of the members of Parliament, that we get an excellent return for the money we spend on education,” said Mr S. G. Holland, member for Christchurch North, when speaking at the official opening of the new class-rooms at Elmwood School on Saturday afternoon. Mr Holland referred to his keenness on private enterprise, and said he thought the new building, was a tribute to private enterprise. “I hope,” he said, “that there will be many more contracts between private builders and the Education Board.” Mr Holland read a telegram from the Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) in which the Minister expressed regret at not being able to : be present at the ceremony. “I hope,” 1 said the message, "that teachers and I pupils will be happier and more com- ! fortable in their new surroundings.” “We can thank members of the Edu- * cation Board, and members of the school committee, but we would not have had any of it but for the Minister for Education,” said Mr Holland. The new colour scheme on the buildings had been spoken about by several of the previous speakers, and in referring to their remarks, Mr Holland said he thought the new environment would make all the difference , to the children. “I venture to say,” he continued, “that children taught in 1 these new surroundings will be cleaner and tidier in their homes.” Mr Holland briefly outlined the building work that had been done at the school since the erection of its first building m 1837. He congratulated the people of the district, and members of the school, committee, on gaining the new building for the school. “This is just tne beg in nine of the building of a new block of buildings for Elmwood School,” he said. t , The chairman of the Canterbury Education Beard (Mr J. W. Preen, said that if it could get the money the board would erect a new school building in every district in Christchurch. It was the intention of the board, ne said, to erect more buildings similar to the new one at Elmwood. Other speakers were Mr J. J. Hurley, chairman of the buildings committee of the board, Mr W. T. Langley, chairman of the Elmwood School Parents Association, and Mr G. P. PurneU, chairman of the Elmwood School Committee. ' ' Mr Purnell said that as the new building was completed, the committee had in view the demolition of the oldest part of the school buildings. The old building was very unsuitable to teach children in. "The buildings of that time were designed to give a feeling of gloom not ecstasy,” he said. Mr Holland then declared the building open. . Built on the new open-air lines, the .building consists of four class-rooms with cloak-rooms attached, and with a wide veranda along the front. It is situated at the rear of the main school buildings, which face on to Leinster road.