SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 675, 27 November 1909, Page 14

SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS.

At the -meeting. of the Auckland. Education Board off NoveinW 24, the Finance Committee reported -having, considered the question of acquiring playground accommodatioif for the Ponsonby, Richmond Boad, and Bayfield Schools,: and - while < recognising the urgent ,■ necessity for. increased playground'.'space, recommended that fttrthor'fcohfflaeration 'of the matter be defemd -for . the. present until funds shall be 'available''far the purchase of additional land. The chairman said the whole, of the city schools I were' - lamentably " deficient in playgrounds, but the board, had no funds for the purpose. -It. was entirely a matter for the. Minister for : ; Education. It must seriously affect'the scholars mentally and,physically to •bo crowded like sardines in a' tin.', The question;wai> coming up ttt'the forthcoming conference" on education matters in Wellington, and its was- to be; hoped some : suggestion .would be made for its solution. The Auckland' Board had to be more than usually careful, as; it was clear, that the grant. this year from .the Government was to.be less than'last year. •Mr. M'Kenzie said the City Council-had; a duty_ in,this matter, and. would show a good public , spirit if they / would do something for providing"more apace.. It;was'a mistako.to go to Jhe Government for everything. The City Counoil hail considerable, endowments. Mr. Parr: And considerable liabilities. 1 t ,Hr v Garlind thought it ■ would come as! asurprise to many people to know thai thi third largest Bchool :in the Dominion, and the largest school in the Auckland district, was in tipper Queen .Street, and the accommodation was > so Umited. that the> scholars ;had actually to be 'drilledon the public thoroughfare. So thought it' was' the'clear ;duty ; : of. the State to provide' b'rehthine spaces for the children, attending' the public 5ch0015.:,... The report ' was adopted, ' and it was agreed to bring the matter under the notico of the Miaisteriac iwoui&ble oonai,deration, •