COST OF SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 141, 12 December 1923, Page 5

COST OF SCHOOLS

THE BUILDING QUESTION

DEPARTMENTAL AND BOARD'S VIEWS

At the November meeting of the Wellington Education Board a circular, which was published fully, was received from the Department on the subject of cost of school buildings. The circular suggested the use of verandahs instead'of corridors, and building in wood instead of in more lasting materials. Consideration of the circular was deferred pending the receipt of the report of a conference of architects, and a report from a sub-committee of the board.

In introducing the sub-committee's "report, the chairman (Mi-. T. Forsyth) remarked that the report of the architects* conference differed Very considerably from the Department's recommendations, particularly in the matter of verandahs instead of corridors. Thi sub-committee had x considered this in making its report. . - ."

The report wag. as follows :—The committee approves of the proposals of the architects' conference, as set forth in the architects* eonferehte report under the heading, "Direct Labour v. Tender," in the following terms:—"That boards should have their own maintenance staffs capable of doing all classes of work; that remodelling and small additions be carried out' as far as possible by the board's staffs; that while it is generally recognised that savings in all building work would be made if carried out by day labour, it is considered that^-(a) through excess or work, or (b). through peculiarities of local conditions, it may be desirable and economical for work to be undertaken by contract, but that when tenders are too high the ..architects will recommend the board to undertake such work by day labour; that in general a board's staff, or builders, who specialise in school buildings, give tho best value; that when boards' staffs execute work, the architects should be responsible for the ordering of all materials." This provides for the execution of maintenance work and small structures by permanent staffs, leaving it open, as being more profitable, to execute the larger works by contract except where a low enough tender: camiot be obtained, when, alternatively, such works should be erected under .the board's direct supervision. With regard to corridors being iri certain schools replaced by verandahs where cloakrooms are provided, it is strongly of opinion that the climatic conditions of the Wellington ■ district do hot justify the adoption of the proposal as far as the Wellington district is cbheerned. As regards foundations, it is of opinion that concrete base and piles should be used in all sandy soils, and in all buildings whefre shingle is readily available. It considers the proposed reduction of stud in residences from 10 feet to 9 feeb to be inadvisable. As regards fences, it appears to your committee that an ultimate gain is secured by the erection of permanent fences, say, of concrete for the larger schools. It considers that there is much to be said in favour ot the use of brick or concrete as reducing permanent maintenance and insurance charges and-, risk of fire. It approves generally of the principle of 'economy in construction, but is of opinion that neither quality nor efficiency should be sacrificed to merely temporary saving. Jfor does, it consider it .right that taste in design should be absolutely sacrificed to mere cheap utility Mr. Risluvorth moved that the report be sent on to the Department, with the board's protest. This was carried without discussion.