New Science Block Opened At St. Bede’s College

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30201, 5 August 1963, Page 13

New Science Block Opened At St. Bede’s College

A new science block, whose total cost, including fittings, will come to more than £47.000 was blessed and opened at St. Bede’s College yesterday afternoon by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, the Most Rev. E. M. Joyce. About 1000 persons were present. The block is constructed of concrete blocks with a brick veneer.

The Rector of the College, Father L. R. Evatt, thanked the Parent-teacher Association, which had accepted the responsibility of equipping the whole of the laboratory block and was going to raise £5OOO. Father Evatt said the building contained a chemistry laboratory, with preparation and work rooms and a store, a tiered demonstration and lecture room, and a senior physics laboratory with darkroom and preparation room. On the upper floor of the south wing were two general purpose laboratories to serve the junior school and the teaching of general science. The ground floor of this wing consisted of an extensive changing room with showers and other facilities for 200 to 250 boys. There was also an oil fired boilerhouse for central heating. Father Evatt said. The member of Parliament for the district, the Minister of Finance (Mr Lake), said praise was due to schools such as St. Bede's and the religious orders conducting them, because they helped to set and maintain high standards of education. Some tangible recognition of this was given last year in legislation enabling an income tax exemption of up to £25 to be claimed for private school fees and some other similar outgoings. This amount was extended in last month's Budget by an extra £25, this time specifically for fees and donations to private schools. “It is too early yet for the Inland Revenue Department to tell accurately what last year's £25 exemption meant in the loss of Government revenue, but it was considerable,” said Mr Lake. “The fine new science block we have blessed and opened this afternoon marks

a proud day for the Fathers of St. Bede's College,’’ said Bishop Joyce. "It is also a proud day in the history of a Catholic College which, for more than 50 years, has made its mark in Catholic and all education throughout New Zealand.”

It was one more example of the way in which the sacrifices of New Zealand Catholics were bearing fruit which would benefit the whole country. The Catholic Church had been fully aware of the importance of science in education. Bishop Joyce said. In this diocese alone, in the last two years and a half, new science blocks had been erected at Xavier College, Sacred Hear' College, St. Mary’s College and now St. Bede’s College, at a cost of £94.000. Science was taught to 2800 children in the diocese at a

saving of £250,000 to the State.

“The generosity of lay Catholics make ceremonies like this possible,” said Bishop Joyce. “Sometimes, it must seem as if the calls on them for education will never end. Perhaps they never will, although there must always be the hope that sooner or later the justice of the Catholic position will be realised and some changes made in the system under which a Catholic pays twice to have his children educated; one in his general taxation and one as a Catholic parent, determined to send his children to the school of his choice.”

Mr J. I. Colligan, chairman of the Waimairi County Council, said he had read that the Government spent £5O million a year on education, but Roman Catholics had to find most of the money for their own schools. ‘‘The day has come when something will have to be done to provide some relief from this burden,” Mr Colligan said. ’ Other speakers were the deputy Mayor, Mr H. P. Smith, and Father C. Crocker, parish priest of St. Mary's, who spoke on behalf of the Provincial of the Society of Mary, Father John Mannix.