TEACHERS’ HOUSES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 104, 26 January 1939, Page 8

TEACHERS’ HOUSES

Comparison With State Dwellings IMPROVEMENT URGED A. return showing the condition of school residences in the Wellington Education Board's district was placed before the board at its meeting yesterday. The chairman, Mr. IV. V. Dyer, had previously asked for information ’as to the number of school residences occupied by teachers in which there was no hot water service; the number with power available but no electric light; and those with sewer drainage available but not connected to the system. Information as to the cost of providing these services was also sought. Inquiries made by the board's officers showed that of the 98 school residences under the control of the board, 76 were occupied -by teachers and 22 were either let or attached to schools which had been closed. Of the 76 residences occupied by teachers, the return showed 58 had electric light and the installation was in hand in four other cases. Installation had been authorized in the case of one other school, but in ten schools the power was not available, and in three others there were power lines in the district but the residences were not connected. Hot water installations were complete in 52 residences —47 domestic and five electric —and six others had been authorized or were in. hand. Chip heaters had been, installed in 11 residences, but in seven otters there was no hot water* service. In the six residences where sewer drainage connexion was available to town or borough services, this had been made. In only two residences were there no sinks.

The provision of hot water services in 18 residences was estimated to cost £9OO, and the wiring of three residences £48 —the installation being dependent on extension of the service to the vicinity of the school grounds. Need For Improvement. The information in the return had brought home to members the need, for improvement in, teachers’ residences, said the chairman. It was gratifying to find, however, that the Wellington board had, not lagged behind, and, in fact, was a little ahead of other boards as regards the condition of its teachers’ residences. That did not mean that Wellington was ahead of the standard that was desired, but he did not know of any member of the board who was not anxious to do all in his power to improve the condition of those residences. Steps had already been taken to bring under the notice of the Minister the board's anxiety to have something done. The board was doing everything possible with the finance available. Colonel T. W. .McDonald said that everyone realized that the Minister had the cause of education very much at heart, but a comparison of teachers’ ’residences and the homes provided by the State for workers showed the

teachers’ residences in an unfavourable light. It was such a huge question that it had to be tackled piecemeal, but so long as there was that disparity, the board should leave no stone unturned to bring before the Minister the need for improvement in teachers’ residences.