Evening Post. FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1923. COLLEGE BUILDINGS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 111, 11 May 1923, Page 6

Evening Post. FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1923. COLLEGE BUILDINGS

With a due appreciation of the need for economy, we can heartily support the efforts of the Girls' College Association to obtain a ■new college for the girls. This supjport we can give on the ground of economy—true economy. It is not economy to crowd 700 or 800 pupils into buildings and on to grounds which are adequate for only half the number; it is not economy to accommodate some of the pupils in leased buildings which were never designed for school use, and it is not economy to erect temporary buildings which will suffice only for a short term and then at the expense of much inconvenience in organisation^ and administration. Lastly, it is -not economy to spend £5000 in levelling and preparing a site and then leave the work, so that no return is obtained for this initial expenditure. It would be enlightening if a return were prepared of the cost of rents, temporary buildings, and other accommodation makeshifts resorted to so that the inevitable new building might be delayed for just a little longer. It would doubtless be found that the sum would 'be such as to help materially in providing the new building. But this is ntft the only loss. For years the Girls' College has worked under difficulties, and, though the standard of training and tuition has been maintained at a high level, it is undeniable that better results could have been obtained had conditions been more favourable.

Estimates' of cost mentioned at the meeting of parents were probably somewhat surprising to some of those present. The Minister of Education has stated that the new school will cost £72,000; but this sum will not have to be provided in one year. It might even be possible to build in stages, though this plan has not produced the most desirable results at the Boys' College. Still, plans could be px-epared to provide for additions without producing a hotchpotch of unsightly and inconvenient edifices. At present many of the pupils are packed into buildings which make the task of school administration and efficient education as difficult as it can possibly be. The most urgent necessity is some measure which will make an early improvement possible. The parents and others who hay© united in the Girls' College Association have an excellent case, which cannot fail to carry conviction. We would suggest, however, that references to what has been done for the boys do not help their arguments. If the girls have been neglected, the' parents of the girls (who are also the parents of the boys) must accept their share of the blame. Wellington College playing fields now appear very delectable, but when the land was granted as an endowment it was rough hills, gullies, and swamp. In the formation of the playing fields and their equipment with baths, observatory, courts, and other conveniences, private effort and private benefactions have been responsible for much. The old boys, inspired by a desire to serve, have been mindful of their old school. It is entirely a mistake to imagine that the formation of the beautiful grounds has been carried out wholly, or even mainly, with public money.

The Girls' College Association may help to provide the girls with those recreation facilities which are their due; but for the present its efforts must be concentrated upon securing the bare necessities of school equipment. It is unfortunate that agitation is necessary before such demands are met. The necessity arises from the defects of • the present school - building method. The extension of the Girls' College and the extension and rebuilding of the Boys' College should have been provided for years ago, and not left till the last minute—and past the last minute. The growth of the demand for bigger buildings has been steady; it is not a demand that has arisen over-night. Surely it is not beyond the power of the educational authorities to devise a plan for the regular replacement and extension of school buildings. Replacement which becomes necessary because of fire or to meet the needs of a rapidly-growing town cannot be prepared for beforehand; but general requirements can be. The Minister of Education has the nucleus of such la system in his Education Loan provision and the tables compiled from Education Board demands. A little elaboration of this system should make it possible to see years ahead what •vill_ ba required And to make fia* aacitil provision accordingly,