Preserving Otago B.H.S. building

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 19

Preserving Otago B.H.S. building

Professor W. P. Morrell, the chairman of the Otago High School’s Board, said this week that an article by the education reporter of “The Press” on Friday may have given the impression that the school’s main building was going to be demolished.

The article, discussing the Department of Education’s rebuilding and renovation programme for South Island secondary schools, said that '•widespread demolition of school buildings such as the picturesque Otago Boys’ High School is likely to bring public opposition.” "Old boys of the school who are readers of The Press’ might like to know that no proposal to demolish the main building has ever been put before the board of governors,” Professor Morrell said.

“What has been proposed is the cessation of the use of the school for teaching purposes within a few years.

"The board was not allowed to see the Ministry c* Works report on which tnis proposal was based; but tae Ministry of Works promised its co-operation if the board wished to have an independent investigation made,” he said. The investigation had been made by an engineer, whose report was with the board, although it had not been yet discussed with him in detail. “The board is well aware that it has a responsibility to the public of Dunedin to see that this fine building is pre-

served, if it can be preserved; and it is hopeful of a happier solution of the problem than the death notice which ‘The Press’ appears to foreshadow,” Professor Morrell said.