Separation Of Speech Clinics “Temporary”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29398, 28 December 1960, Page 11

Separation Of Speech Clinics “Temporary”

The Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) has informed the North Canterbury Speech Therapy Association that the separation of speech training clinics at Cranmer (formerly the Normal School) will be only a temporary measure.

The Minister has told the association that when “good, permanent” accommodation becomes available the clinics will be “consolidated into a training unit” The association, supported by other organisations, recently protested to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and Mr Tennent over the decision to transfer two of the three speech training clinics at Cranmer to the top floor of the caretaker’s house. The association has replied to Mr Tennent’s letter recording its dissatisfaction, particularly on the ground that temporary arrangements are all too often apt to become permanent. Minister’s Letter

The letter from Mr Tennent to the association reads as follows: “I appreciate your concern that the speech clinics at Cranmer should be satisfactorily accommodated, and their value as a training unit recognised. “I understand that the Can-

terbury Education Board’s recommendation that two of the clinics b.e moved to another building was approved by my predecessor, and that the necessary alterations are already being made. “I am advised that the district superintendent, the senior inspector of schools, and the actingprincipal of the Teachers’ College consider that, in the circumstances, what is proposed is satisfactory as a temporary arrangement.

“It would, I think, be unreasonable to delay the remodelling which is required both in the upstairs portion of the caretaker’s house and in the Cranmer building. “I have asked that, if the stairs in the new accommodation present some difficulty to physically handicapped children, arrangements be made for these children to attend one of the other clinics.

“I understand clearly the importance of a national training centre for speech therapists. “While there will be some disadvantages in the separation of the clinics at Cranmer, you will be pleased to know that it is intended to consolidate them into a training unit when good permanent accommodation becomes available.”