SHORT OF FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 54, 27 November 1928, Page 10

SHORT OF FUNDS

COLLEGE ADDITIONS HELD UP

At a meeting of the Technical College Board of Governors last night it transpired that the holding up of additions to the college was due to lack of funds, but that a grant would be forthcoming upon the sale of the education property in Mercer and Wakefield Streets. The Minister of Education wrote stating that he is pressed for finance, having only enough funds to meet urgent and necessary works during the remainder of the financial year.

In regard to the board’s request for additions to the college, the Minister of Education replied that until something definite transpired between the Education Board and the City Council in reference to the purchase of the block of buildings in Mercer and Wakefield Streets he was unable to provide the necessary funds. To take £30,000 out of this year’s grant at the present moment would practically deplete it and leave him nothing with which to carry on urgent and necessary work up to March 31 next. A valuation of the Education Board’s property, said the Minister, had been made, and this matter was in the hands of the board. If anything could be done to expedite the sale of the buildings and give him (the Minister) some indication as to when the money would be paid, perhaps the Treasury might make provision for the necessary funds. If the Technical College Board could do anything to bring about finality between the Education Board and the council it would certainly assist matters very materially. The Minister added that he was not anxious to delay additions, as he knew they were necessary, but he felt that he was being considerably embarrassed by the demands that were made in Wellington and elsewhere for additions to various schools. In Wellington this last year the demand had been very heavy indeed, particularly in the Hutt Valley district, owing to the transfer of population from the city to that borough. Mr. C. H. Chapman said they should note that the Minister admitted the additions were necessary. The chairman (Mr. W. H. Bennett) : When the sale of the property takes place we shall get a grant. We have to wait for a move from the City Council. Mr. L. R. Partridge thought they should write to the Education Board on. the subject as they were parties to the matter. Tlie chairman said he believed at the next municipal election another loan poll would be placed before the ratepayers, and possibly this matter might be included. No doubt the Mayor had something on the way because plans were being prepared for additions to the Town Hall buildings on the area between the education buildings and the Town Hall.

Mr. Partridge thought the board should agitate as much as possible in the matter, for he believed by doing so they might hurry things up. It was agreed to write to the Minister, and also to the board, with a view to speeding up the disposal of the property and enabling the necessary grant to be made for the additions to the college.