Teachers College Move ‘Cannot Be Delayed’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30725, 14 April 1965, Page 18

Teachers College Move ‘Cannot Be Delayed’

The case for the early and complete transfer of the Christchurch Teachers’ College to a site near the new University of Canterbury at Ham impressed the Parliamentary subcommittee on public expenditure on education which may give its support.

“We can see already that this decision cannot long be delayed as the existing buildings are unstable for present rolls and, too frequently in the past, costs of land and building to the Government and to taxpayers have been increased by delays,” said the chairman (Mr W. W. Freer, M.P.).

Mr Freer said he was convinced that it was sometimes advantageous to push some plans ahead of schedule to

save these cost increases and also the losses incurred through continuing use of uneconomic and inefficient buildings. In an all-morning inspection of the present Teachers’ College, the sub-committee noted “the inadequacy of the original primary and secondary training buildings; the number of departments using former dwellings: the fact that the proposed Hagley Park may cut through the present property: and that the transfer of the university to Ham will separate teacher trainees from it.” The sub-conunittee was startled by some sanitary arrangements at the college.

caused an on-the-spot inquiry, and was assured that improvements were planned. On the credit side Mr Freer said his group was very pleased with the tone of the college and with the success of the recent innovation of spreading college hours between 8 a.in. and 5 p in. This lessened "bottlenecks” on the hall, gymnasium, library, and laboratories and also made maximum use of existing facilities. Mr Freer said this gesture must impress the public. So far this development was peculiar to Christchurch and Hamilton. The sub-committee yesterday had more talks with officers of the Canterbury Education Board, visited the Cerebral Palsy School and the Merivale Occupational Centre, and this morning will visit the School for the Deaf at Sumner. This sub-committee is concentrating on teachers’ colleges and special classes A few weeks ago another coni mittee concentrated on edu cational administration and related matters.