SCHOOL FIRE RISKS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 130, 29 November 1926, Page 11

SCHOOL FIRE RISKS

EXPLANATION BY MINISTER,

A statement was made by the Minister of Education to-day with the object of clearing up a misunderstanding which appears to exist in certain educational quarters, in Auckland at least, in regard to school fire risks. Mr. Wright's remarks have particular reference to a discussion on the subject at a meeting of tho Auckland Grammar School Board.

"A member is reported to have said," stated the Minister, "that 'the money required to re-establish buildings destroyed by fire will come from the Consolidated Fund, and that this was taking a risk that no business man would dream of taking.' It seems clear that the speaker has not carefully read the Department's circular, for he states immediately aftenvards, 'if tho Department were to establish a fund to be called a rebuilding fund, in which the premiums saved could be placed, then the move would be a good one.' As was pointed out at the same meeting, this is precisely the plan that has been followed for years in connection with the primary schools, and which it is proposed to adopt for secondary and technical schools. Each year a sum of money far loss than that which would have to be paid in premiums if the buildings were insured in the ordinary way, is placed in what is called a Eire Eund, and this fund accumulates as a reserve against fire losses. Whenever a school is burnt the cost of the new school is met out of this sinking fund or rebuilding fund, in just the way that members of the board would commend. It should be satisfactory to all concerned, therefore, to know that the system is on a sound basis.''