OLD SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 37, 12 August 1920, Page 8

OLD SCHOOLS

THE MINISTER'S PROBLEM

PREPARING A SCHEME OF WORK.

Pieces of rotten wood and timber riddled -with borer formed an exhibit placed before the Minister of Education (Hon. O. J Parr) by a deputation from Longburn this morning. The exhibit was taken from a > portion of the existing school, which the deputation claimed should be rebuilt. Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., said that, the school had stood for fifty years, and ..some-thing, .must, be- done to replace it. The Wanga-nui, .Education Board architect had reported that the old portion of the school had fallen into such a ,%tate_ that satisfactory,...repairs... .were im-■pos-sible. "-- The-*-architect; recommended .'that* the school be" placed on the list of buildings for replacement. Mr. J. Ban- eaid that the people of Longburn were threatening that they would not send theii children to the school foi another winter. The residents of Longbum had within the last two years, spent, £350 in beautifying the grounds-a-ndi; forming iennis-courts, but the more they did the worse the old school looked. Mr. R. Tanner said the outbuildings of the school were in such, a state that they coifld not be used. If finance was the trouble, then the country should be prepared to run deeper into debt and meet. more, taxation; but the money must be found somehow. . _The Minister : "I wish you would convince the'people of that.'' In his reply the Minister said he was pleased to meet a committee which, had done so much to improve the grounds and.surroundings of the school. Such a ; committee, %'asl entitled s to have "the ear of the Department when- it came with a lequest. Ona portioi of Longburn school ..was. built.,2B. years..ago, but the other portion was over fifty years old. These old schools, of- which unfortunately there v era hundreds, were a most difficult problem to handle. Obviously new districts where there were-no schools must Lo attended to first. The old schools 'must"'receive attention in order of urgency. Ths Department's programme vas to renodel and modernise them wherever they were sound enough. Ten :nillions would be required if all were to be Tebuilt. Much could be done by improving the lighting and ventilation in buildings where thf .timber was sound. 'Each Education Board had been asked .sto' siipuly ths Department with a. scheme of work for three years. The Wanganui Board had already supplied this, but some other boards had not, though the request was made four months ago. He v,as afraid that he would have to refuse t'> let them have more money if they did not give the information required. ht isuoh a business as this they must work to a plan. The Wangai.ui Board had placed the Longburn school second on its list for 1922. That was the view of the- board which knew the requirement. 1: of th* '.vhole of the Wanganui Education District. He would be largely guided by tlia recommendations of the boa.rds, but he "reserved to himself the right to overhaul the plan of work drawn up. The architect whose appoint rnent to the Department would be made ■shortly would visit the old schools with Mr. Spencer, and would report upon their condition. Mr. Nash said they would be quite prepared to take the report of the.architect, but they, were not satisfied with Longburn's place in the Wanganui list of works. .