"DISAPPOINTING"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 90, 13 October 1926, Page 13

"DISAPPOINTING"

REPLACEMENT OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS

ATTITUDE OF THE DEPARTMENT.

An intimation that tho Education

Department might not be in a position to carry out its policy of replacing one school in each district during the present year was received by the Education Board to-day. The matter camo up as a result of a protest at .the last meeting against the decision of the Department not to proceed at present with the erection of a new infant school at Mount Cook. The letter of the Department was in tho following terms: —"The Department is in receipt of your letter of 7th September asking what ease of rebuilding the Department proposes in place of the Mount Cook Infant School. In reply, I have to say that in all probability it will not be possible this year to undertake a case of rebuilding in the four centres. The Department has had many more calls on the funds at its disposal this year than was anticipated, and the strictest scrutiny of all applications for some time to come will have to be made. It may be said, however, that the Wellington Education Board has had very generous treatment this year and the grant recently approved for the replacement of the building at Petone West by an up-to-date infant school is closely connected in many ways. with. Wellington. Further it appears that the Department must at an early date consider various extensive proposals with regard to sites and buildings in the Hutt Valley. The whole question must remain over until it is seen whether there are any funds available later on in the financial year."

Tho chairman (Mr. T. Forsyth, M.P.) said that the letter was rather disappointing. It was understood that they wero to have one old building re- ■ placed each year, but it appeared that, there was going to be.a departure from that policy for one year, if not for two. It was quite true that tho Department had had numerous calls in regard to the Hutt Valley and had ac-. quired and would acquire in the future several sites. The infants at Mount Cook wero at present . housed in tho girls' school, but the arrangement was <far from satisfactory. The letter was received.