HEATING OF TWO SCHOOLS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23053, 22 June 1940, Page 7

HEATING OF TWO SCHOOLS

Regret that “one-sided” statements about the Ashburton Borough and Lyttelton schools having closed for ■ short periods through lack of heating had appeared in the newspapers, was expressed by Mr C. S. Thompson (chairman of the buildings committee), at the meeting of the Canterbury Education Board yesterday. “I am sorry to see that criticism in the newspapers represents only one side of the case.” Mr Thompson said. “It is not always wise to rush into print with one side of the story only. The statements in our reports to-day, however, have been vouched for as being correct by the superintendent of works.” The building committee reports .were:— Ashburton —“A report was received from the foreman sttaing that the pump required for the heating system had been ordered, but did not come to hand until the day op which the schools reopened, and arrangements had already been made for its installation on receipt of advice from the committee that the school had had to be closed through lack of heating. The faqt that the new pump was not in position, however, in no way prevented , the committee from using the heating service, the pump acting me?£ly as an accelerator to increase the efficiency of the system.” , Lyttelton—“lt was ascertained that the school authorities had been respon, sible for the lack of heating in three i rooms, which had resulted in the school being closed for a day. The architect had found that the stopcock to the supply tank of the heating system had been turned off, thus allowing no admission of water to the system, as a result of which, after three days’ firing, the boiler had burnt out, representing a substantial loss to the board. The board had been compelled to provide auxiliary heating as a result of the above.”