GIRLS' COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 146, 21 June 1923, Page 8

GIRLS' COLLEGE

NEED FOR A NEW BUILDING

TO BE CONSIDERED WITH THE ESTIMATES

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS,

I A deputation, about 50 strong, representing the Girls' College Parents' -Association, waited upon the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education today, nnd ajain urged the need of providing Wellington with a new Girls' College. All the local members of Parliament were present, besides representatives of the Education Board, the Ciiy Council, and the College Board of Governors. The Prime Minister said that' the request would be' considered when the Public Works Estimates were being framed in a few weeks' time. Sir John Luke, M.P., introduced the deputation, and emphasised the urgei\t needs of the institution. • The conditions existing were detrimental to the interests of the girls who attended the college, and a very serious position had arisen. They asked the Government to grant a sum that would enable a substantial stnrt to be made with a new building on the site already prepared. It had been stated that the sum of £72,000 was needed for the new. building, but the deputation did not ask for that big amount immediately. "WELLINGTON'S -TURN NOW." Mr. G. Mitchell, president of the Parents' Association, said that the demand for secondary education was growing, and the needs of Wellington were not sufficient to meet the requirements. At tho Girls' College education was being carried on under very great difficulties. The site was a splendid one and they hoped that the building would be in keeping. He hoped that the Prime Minister would realise that it was Wellington's turn now. They asked the Government to vote a substantial sum so that an immediate start could be made Mr. R. W. Shallcrass said that the association would help in every possible way to beautify the new grounds and' equip them for sport. He was .sure that Mr. Massey and the Minister of Education realised the urgent needs, although temporary structures had been erected to accommodate the overflow at the college the position was even more acute now than formerly. A BIG SCHOOL FAVOURED. Miss IVPLean (principal of the college) said that no school in New Zealand was in a worse position than the Wellington Girls' College. The temporary accommodation consisted of a number of tin sheds. The Prime Minister: "You mean corrnesited iron." . Miss M'Lnan asserted that the teachers were suffering because of the present deplorable conditions. The Prime Minister: "You look very well. Miss M'Lean." Miss M'Lean replied that fortunately she was very strong. She said that the deputation confidently expected a favourable reply from ' the Government. Miss M'Lean argued in favour of the establishment of bis; schools, and urged ■the 'needs of_ building something more than one section of the new building. ■ SUPPORT FROM MR. PARR. The Minister of Education, the Hon. C. J. .Parr, said that he was afraid Miss M'Lean would not be satisfied until Mr. Massey gave a favourable answer. It was the third big deputation she had organised. She was a splendid organiser. Mr. Parr supported the claims of the deputation, but did not agree with the contention that Wellington had been more neglected than the other centres. The complete plans for the new. High School showed that the total cost would be £80,000. That such a large amount should be spent upon a secondary school immediately was out of the question. He would propose that a vote should be made to provide accommodation for 400 children. Sixteen or seventeen classrooms would -,be needed, and the cost would not be less than £40,000. His Department had been allotted a certain .sum, but it would not go far if he had to make provision for new secondary schools. Ho asked the Prime Minister to make a special effort to meet the situation. PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY. The Prime Minister said that the Minister of Education had put on him the onus of stating what the Government would do. As Minister of Finance he had to find the money, and that was the hardest part. Requests for grants for educational purposes were coming in from all over the Dominion. The deputation should not imagine that Wellington was the only centre badly off for school buildings. He had just been round the Dominion, and he knew the requirements of the various districts. During the last three and a half years the Government had built 636 schools, large and small, and that was a very fine record. However, the requirements had not yet been satisfied. Dunedin wanted a new medical school as a part of the Otago University, and the costwould not be less than £100,000. It also wanted a new dental school, and the need in that connection was urgent. The foundation stone had been laid of a new university for Auckland, which had never had a proper university building. Then there was the Wellington Technical College, which he supposed would have to go on until completed. Only last week Cabinet agreed to a grant of nearly £10,000 for that school. The financial obligations of the Government were very heavy, and it would cost not leas than £150,000 to repair the damage done in tho South Island by the floods. The population of the Dominion was increasing all the time, and the Government had to make arrangements to accommodate an increasing number of children who desired to attend the schools. It was no use him .pleading poverty. The financial position had undoubtedly improved, but he had to make the very best use of the money that was available. Wellington's claims for a new college would be considered when the Public Works Estimates were being prepared (in about six weeks' time). "If we are able to give you .a satisfactory reply then," said Mr. Massey, "nobody will be more pleased than myself. I know that a new building is wanted, and that it should be provided as soon as possible. Miss M'Lean: "What about'the million surplus?" The Prime Minister: "1 could do with ten millions." There was little hope that any of the surplus would be available for buildings.