SCHOOL SITES & LACK OF MATERIAL

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 35, 10 August 1921, Page 5

SCHOOL SITES & LACK OF MATERIAL

WORK DONE AND PLANNED

EDUCATION BOARD. ASKS FOR , MAXIMUM PROGRESS.

In his annual rsport to the Minister, the chairman of the Wellington Education Board, Mr. T. Forsyth, referred to the difficulty of procuring material and, in the' caee of country work, efficient labour, whioh increased rather than diminished ,duping the past year, and led to a most regrettable delay in th# completion of practically all the major works of the district, and to a reduction of the maintenance works which it was possible to accomplish, and the work, undertaken did not, therefore, represent a propo.V' tionate amount of maintenance falling to. a single year. Nevertheless a considerable amount of woik was undertaken.. New schools, were erected at Solway (two rooms), Mauga-roa (one. room), Castlepoint (one room), Poroporo (one rqqm), Pulvenui, (one room), and Deep Creek (one ropm). Additions were erected at' Easte-m H.utt, Hataitai, Waterfalls (Mai'lborough), and JohnsonviOe,, and the' Tiraumea. School w« removed to the. new site. The chief works under.- way were: Martinborough, new school fTe Ore Ore, new 'school; South Miramar, new school; Te Aro, I'nfan.t Department; Masterton West, additions; and Muritai, additions ; ajiti. works, projected which; the boaTd considers should be carried out as soon as finaiiicjal conditions improve are : Training College* student accommodation; Hntt, Technical School; new schools' at Newlaads, Kaiwa-rra, Movnington, Mount Cook (co-nsolidaWn), Newtown, Picton, Silvei'sfcream; and additions- at Clyde-quay (infants), Petone West (infants), Carterton, Paraparaumu, Springlands , (remodellins), Brooldyn, Hataitai, Seatoun, and MitchelltoWn.' „ The liberal policy approved by Parliament having for its purpose the ac-, quirement of more spacious sites and the erection of new schools to replace old schools, which, while good in their day. have manifestly sei.v.ed their purpose, ■was pursued as far as the authorities would, permit, and the board acknowledges with appreciation that its major proposals have been advanced,, though, owing to/ unfavourable circumstances, not to the anticipated. The acquirejnent of sufficient sites, or of site additions, was undeH way or had,been conipleted at Mount Cook, Newtown, Mornington, Kaiwarra, Te Aro, .Featherston, Grejtown (by exchange). Lyall Bay, Petone' West,..', Terrace, Upper Hutt, Pet.one West, Picton; and Springlands. The older ■ schools, of Wellington City are so much below, present-day standards of requirement that, but for the- war,, they must have been' replaced before to-day, and the board urotes that their reconstruction should not be de,layed a day beyond the period of financial compulsion. "In regard to expenditure," says Mr. Forsyth, "while, limitation has been necessarily imposed on the country by the circumstances of the past seven years, I'hold it a mistake to defer a aane policy of nrn-'w? n dnv after st'cli a policy .ia practicable. It is inconceivable that a country whlcji sent 100.000 men to defend her, and which can afford to spend in one year, for a population of one ?nd a-quarter millions, over £7.000,000 cm intoxicants, should \eyen surest ions; . delgy in proceedins with its ediinatimnnl projects, already; long overdue. The board feels, sir', that, the fine trolley of progress and development to wlii(>h\ yen' ■ 3iave addressed yourself with such .si"U'il vigour- and STi^ess must prooeed ivt (he very earliest date possible. TTriduf economy here, at the expense of the child, is not to be countenanced."