Education Department’s New Office In City

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29051, 13 November 1959, Page 9

Education Department’s New Office In City

(From Out Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, November 12. It is hoped that the regional office of the Department of Education, which will be established in the old St. Margaret’s College building in Cranmer square will be fully operative by mid-1960 The appointment of Mr J. F Mills as district executive officer has just been approved. Mr Mills who will be in charge of the new regional office, will have a clerical staff of about 50, when the establishment is completed. The addition of the present Canterbury team of primary and post-primary inspectors, physical education officers, instructors in arts and crafts, and vocational guidance advisers, will bring the total number of people occupying the building to about 100. Mr Mills, who was educated at Temuka District High School, and who served there as pupil teacher before transferring to head office Wellington, is at present engaged fo sorting out the relevant files for transfer to Christchurch The regional office will handle aU matters relating to school buildings, teachers’ salaries, transport, and examinations for the Canterbury Otago, and Southland school districts.

The next appointment to the hew office is likely to be that of an architect. Applications for this position have been invited and it is specified that the successful apSlicant will be required to work i Wellington for approximately six months before, the Christchurch office opens.

A spokesman for the departS e VL Said i. 1 ? day 0131 the work would not overlap that of the Canterbury Education Board’s architect in any way. His presence would mean that planning referred to the department, and now having to wait either for attention in Wellington A_Z isit by departmental staff ' to Christchurch, would now be dealt with on the spot. t JP*?u bo “s ? rew its own Plans but these had to be referred to the he said. Tlie position concerning postprimary schools was different. Their construction came under the Works Department, but in each case planning and construction would be greatly assisted by the fact that a department architect would be in liaison.

The old St. Margaret’s College nuilding is regarded as very suitable for its new task, but departmental officers said a good deal of work would have to be done to convert the old classrooms to offices.

July is being given as the date by which all transfer work will be completed, but it will probably be February before a firm date can be set.