RECORD YEAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 69, 14 December 1939, Page 11

RECORD YEAR

Education Board’s Building Programme

CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW The building activities of the Wellington Education Board during 1939 had constituted a record, despite difficulties caused by abnormal conditions, said the chairman, Mr. W. V. Dyer, in reviewing the work of the year at yesterday's meeting of the board. Difficulty had been experienced in obtaining trained draughtsmen, but iu spite of that the volume of work completed during the year constituted a new record for the board. Details of the expenditure over the past five years were given by Mr. Dyer as follows: —

The expenditure in 193 S on buildings and maintenance was the previous highest in the history of the board.

Essential Works.

“A gratifying feature of the year's operations has been the completion, after many years of striving, of certain essential works iu this district, ’’ said Mr. Dyer. “I refer particularly to the replacement of the main Newtown School, the provision of a new site and erection of new buildings at Hutt Central, the new Pahautanui School, a headmaster’s office at Worser Bay, and the remodelling 'of the Mauriceville School. Work is also wed under way on the new infant department at Clyde Quay, and it is anticipated that this building will be available for occupation early in the New Year. In addition, new schools have been opened at Gracefield and Miramar North and additions at Seddou, Rai Valley, Wilford and Petone West. A new school was opened at Lansdowne, to replace the brick building, and a new manual training centre at Miramar to replace the building taken over by Rongotai College.” In continuation of the board's policy, careful attention had been given to the upkeep of its property. Though there was still much to bo done, the board’s buildings were in much better condition now than they had been for some time past.

Mr. Dyer referred to the difficulty in obtaining reasonable tenders for the carrying out of work for the board. In some cases no tenders had been received, though tenders had been advertised on two or three occasions, and in other cases the prices received had been so high as to preclude the work going on.

“It was expected that the board’s new office building would be ready for occupation in January,” said Mr. Dyer. “Though the work of construction is well forward, it will be March or April before the offices are completed and ready for our use.” “The work of education boards is becoming increasingly important, and there are many demands made upon members, who give their services willingly without fee or reward,” he continued. “The boards form an essential part of the educational machine, and in my opinion it would be a retrograde step to deprive the system of such a valuable link.” Board members paid tribute to the work of the chairman, the secretary, Mr. W. I. Deavoll (particularly on the Exhibition education committee) and the senior inspector, Mr. D. Macaskill, who is shortly to retire.

Maintenance. New works. Total. £ 1935 6,418 9,099 15.517 1936 10,597 14,711 25,308 1937 12,389 36.103 48,392 1938 11,503 40,979 58,542 1939 (11 mths. only) 13,951 50,314 64,205