ELECTRICITY COSTS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31348, 19 April 1967, Page 9

ELECTRICITY COSTS

School Has Problem

Provision had not been made in the draft budget for the 12} per cent Increase in electricity charges, a meeting of the board of governors oi' Avonside Girls’ High School was told ibis week.

This comment was made by the acting secretary (Mr M. J. Richards) when the board was discussing the draft budget. However, provision would be made near the date when the new charges took effect Mr Richards said that the new charges would not greatly affect estimates included in the draft budget because when the price increased in October, heating and lighting costs would be tapering off. When discussing the agenda for the New Zealand Secondary School Boards’ Association regional conferences, to be held on May 9, Mr G. G. Henderson said it was a shame that so much of schools* grounds should be taken up with new buildings. He felt that provision should be made for playing areas by boards when expansion was being planned. The chairman (Dr. G. Jobherns) said that although some schools in Christchurch were becoming congested, Avonside Girls* High was well off.

Mr Richards said that building codes were laid down for all classes trf schools. For example, 20 acres was the most land that a coeducational school could occupy. For Avonside 12 acres was the maximum and the school already had this. In her report to the board, the acting principal (Miss Strong) said that last month the school had a visit from three traffic officers who gave instruction on road safety and inspected 686 bicycles, 382 of which were passed. Officers elected:—Chairman, Dr. G. Jobbems; deputychairman, Mrs P. Dalmer; representative on the Christchurch Secondary Schools’ Council, Dr. Jobberns; advisory committee, Mesdames Dalmer, M. Rae, K. M. Diehl and D. P. Shea; works committee, Dr. Jobberns and Messrs H. Beattie, V. R. Aitken and G. G. Henderson.