Local Materials In School Buildings

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31716, 27 June 1968, Page 10

Local Materials In School Buildings

The Education Department has instructed school authorities that local materials should be used on subsidised building projects such as halls, gymnasiums, and pools unless there are strong design or economic reasons against this.

A new circular, received by the Christchurch Secondary School’s Council said the department had received inquiries whether its directive on local materials in school buildings also applied to subsidised projects. The council also received the letter of the Regional Superintendent of Education (Mr S. S. P. Hamilton) saying the Ministry of Works had been asked to reassess the steel content of freestanding libraries for six Christchurch high schools with the object of using laminated timber and that tenders would be called again. The secretary of the council and of the six school boards concerned (Mr P. J. Halligan) said tenders for the libraries had been called and submitted to the Ministry of Works when the new ruling was received. He understood that fresh tenders would be called in about a week. “In the meantime three months have been lost,” said Mr Halligan. “Libraries supposed to be ready for the start of next year will not now be ready until the second term.”

Mr D. F. Prestney (Papanui) said his board was told libraries would have priority

provided the board did not seek plan alterations. The Ministry of Works, which prepared the plan, must have known of the Government’s view on local materials and it must take full responsibility. “The master builders are going to the Minister on this one,” said Mr Prestney. “They are appalled that tenders were received and then recalled.”

Mr J. Hefford (Shirley) said that other school buildings were being held up by this delay. “We do not object to New Zealand materials but to the action taken when tenders were virtually settled,” said Professor H. R. Gray (Riccarton).

On the motion of Professor G. Jobberns (Avonside) the council agreed to express concern at the delay and ask that the six libraries “be put speedily in hand.”