SCHOOLS FULL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1927, Page 10

SCHOOLS FULL

POSITION IN THE HUTT

CHILDREN TURNED AWAY

The overcrowding in the schools in the Hutt area was mentioned to-day by Mr. A. J. Gearing, a member of the Eastern Hutt School Committee. Referring to the letter in "Tho Post" ou the subject, signed "Shut Out," he said: "Complaint is made that the Eastern Hutt School Committee has been remiss in not obtaining increased accommodation for school children. I would like to point out that the committee is fully conversant with the position, and has for the last fifteen months been urging the Education Board to increase the accommodation at the school. The board some twelve months ago provided a portable room, but it was at once seen that it was quite inadequate for the growing needs of the district and the board was - urged to provide immediately further accommodation. Probably as the result of these representations, the board then decided upon the erection of a school at the corner of White's LiiU) and Waiwctu road, but there is little prospect of its being finished before April, and in the meantime the present school is quite overcrowded, and children are turned away daily. Floor space in the infant room provides for 160 children, and there are now 220 attending. "In any case the rapidly-growing needs of tho population in the vicinty of the White's Line school will very speedily-occupy all the available space there, and also the want of roading facilities at present makes it impossible for the school to relieve the congestion at Eastern Hutt. Apparently the board is not proceeding at once with the Mandel Block school, so that tho pro>->ect is that one thousand or so children from this area will have to be accommodated either at the "White's Line Schoolor at the temporary school at Hutt Park.

"The committee is fully alive to the need for finding temporary accommodation for scholars offering at Eastern Hutt, and to this end they have urged upon the Education Board the need of obtaining facilities at the Knox Church Schoolroom,, and I understand that arrangements are being made to-day to take a portion of two classes there. It is the committee's opinion that the projected schools will not meet the needs of the Eastern Hutt School district, and that further accommodation at the existing schools is very urgently needed.''