STATE AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 269, 7 August 1920, Page 6

STATE AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

HOSTELS AS A FACTOR IN THE COMPETITION DIFFICULTY OF BUILDING TO-DAY Replying yesterday to a deputation that waited upon him to urge that a hostel should be provided for pupils attending the Technical Colleen at Dunedin, the Hon. C. .T. Parr (Minister of Education) said that the request raised tlic whole question of hostel accommodation. "The want of such accommodation," he said. "is. I am sure, enabling private boarding schools all over New Zealand to Ret children that we ought to have in our own schools, where they would get a much better education. Tho only way to cot a State scheme properly going ii by a system of hostels. Big Needs, But Limited Funds. "But a bis programme is involved. Instead of an annual voto out of tho Public Works Fund, Parliament has said that in the ina'.ter of buildings and sites there shall bo settled for four year# a iixed appropriation of three-quartern ol' a million pounds. I have to do the best I can with that, which is equal only to .£•100.000 six years ago. That is the sum per annum that is available to meet tho demands from the North Cape to tha Bluff. All over New Zealand old buildings are getting worn on; and replacing, restoration and remodelling are required. Personally, 1 am keen upon, tho hostel system, but the northern, centres, which have no accommodation whatever, have a greater claim than thos.i places that already have somo accommodation. The Government has intiina ed that in the meantime the morepressing matter of school buildings must be attended to, but even if Parliament would .supply me with the money, 1 doubt if it would lie wise of ine to flood New Zealand with a big building schema at the present lime. A buildup that m 1!)U cost JIOOO will now cost- .£2200, and the price is going up all the time. Only tins morning there were four cases before me in which the tenders showed tlmt the lowest price in each case is 29 per eont. more than the boards estimate of four months ago. "\Vc are now faced with this extra expenditure. Sometimes I think it would pay nic to withhold all building for a time until things settle themselves in -he building market, but I am loath to <lo that.'