BROOKLYN’S NEEDS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 217, 9 June 1926, Page 4

BROOKLYN’S NEEDS

MORE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES * OVERCROWDING IN SCHOOLS Increased educational facilities in the Brooklyn, Vogeltown and Mornington districts were sought by a deputation from the Brooklyn School Committee winch waited on uie ...i.usiei u ~.u-catiou catiou (Hon. R. A. Wright) yesterday. Mr. R. McKeen, M.P., who introduced the deputation, said that the matters which the deputation would place before the Minister had been the subject of representation from time to time, and the new infant school at Brooklyn was one of tho "legacies” left the Minister by his predecessor! A new school , was wanted at Vogeltown, where the position from an accommodation point of view had become unbearable. Tho school grounds were also in need of attention, and the speaker considered that if’ the works could be undertaken some of the unemployed could bo absorbed. Mr. McKeen pointed out that the people of Brooklyn were particularly public-spirit-ed residents, and through their own efforts had at various tiroes raised sums for different educational objects. Mr. W. Hatch, chairman of the School Committee, related the history of tho school at Brooklyn, which he maintained was at least forty years old. At present two cottages in proximity to the school were being utilised as temporary classrooms, a most undesirable state of affairs. The shelter shed accommodation required attention, as did also the school grounds. The deputation wanted to see six more brick rooms attached to tho existing building at Brooklyn to make an edifice worthy of the district. Serious overcrowding at the Vogoltown and Mornington School was dealt, with by Mr. F. D. O’Halloran, who estimated that tho recent census results would show that the population in tho districts had been almost doubled since 1921. The present building, built to Louse 33 children, was accommodating 46 children and two teachers. There was no drainage at the school, and such conditions tended towards the breeding of epidemics of scarlet fever and typhoid. A recent partial canvass of the district said the speaker, showed that approximately 150 children would he available to attend the new school. In view of tho removal of various transport and communication difficulties, a rapid development of settlement in the district was anticipated, and it was suggested that to prevent a short-sighted policy being repeated, a now school should be erected which would domicile 300 children. It was urged that a complete survey of the position should be undertaken by competent officials at once and that upon receipt of their reportsconsideration bo given to the question of immediately putting the preliminary work in hand. Minister’s Reply. In the course of Lis reply, the Mintster said that wherever he went in New Zealand ho found that many of tho primary schools were in need of assistance from tho department. Dealing with the. question of tho absorption of tin. employed on .levelling work at tho Brooklyn and ’Mornington Schools. Mr. Wright suggested that, as the City Council would bo raising some money to find for the men, Mr. McKeon, in his capacity as a councillor, should use his eloquence there. "I know how difficult it is to secure work for the unemployed.” added tho speaker. Continuing, the Minister said that, as the deputation was aware, the department did not improve school grounds unless the residents themselves subscribed for tho work. Some money which was covered £ for £ by the Department. Of course, there had been exceptions, such as tho erection of retaining walls, which did not come within the scope of the school committees Ho regretted that the rooms at Vogeltown had not been replaced, as lie considered they should have been. It was unfortunate, too, that Brooklyn School’s shelter sheds had suffered witli others when, in the past, no thought was given as to location The addition of six concrete rooms had been suggested by Mr. Hatch; that was a big order, but ho agreed that the building policy should consider future requirements. Ho recalled his own experience as member for Wellington. South, when the Brooklyn School Committee had agitated for an extra room at the school. It was realised nt the time that, before Fhe additional accommodation was properly fro’en up. there would bo the need for ’ still another room. .Timo proved the committee's anticipations to be correct. There was no doubt, said the Minister, that the district was growing nnd would continue to do so rapidly. Tho deputation's requests, would ho carefully and sympathetically gone into, lie knew something about their ' difficulties. and ho would see what could bo done to help them. It all depended on' the amount of tho grant for education purport's. Mr. Wright trusted that it would be a liberal grant ns the money would be well spent, and it was needed.