Civic Trust Wants Normal School Kept

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32234, 28 February 1970, Page 19

Civic Trust Wants Normal School Kept

If a Ministry of Works engineers’ report on the Normal School in Cranmer Square was not available to the Christchurch Civic Trust the trust would carry out its own survey, the chairman of the survey said the chairman of the trust (Mr John Oakley). Mr Oakley was commenting on a statement made by the Minister of Education (Mr Taiboys) who said that the latest structural report from the Ministry of Works had recommended that the building not be occupied after it was vacated by the Teachers; College secondary department. “We would like to see the Ministry's report," said Mr Oakley. "It would save is considerable time preparing one ourselves. “We do not doubt the word of the Ministry engineers but their report was made from the point of view that the building should not. be saved.” Mr Oakley said that as far as the trust’s engineers could see the building was in fair condition. The walls were sound though there was a suggestion of weakness where the floor joists joined. “There are good historic reasons why the building should be preserved," said Mr Oakley. “It was the first building to be built as a school under the new educational scheme after education was no longer controlled by the Anglican Church. “It was built by the Provincial Government as a model primary school for 1200 pupils and also as a training school for teachers.

“It does seem a shame that it should be pulled down as there is a tremendous short-

age of classrooms all over Christchurch. I have heard it suggested that the Girls’ High School could use it,” said Mr Oakley.