CRAMPED SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 48, 6 September 1928, Page 12

CRAMPED SCHOOL

LYALL BAY PROBLEM

REMODELLING URGED MINISTER AGREES A deputation from the Lyall Hay School Committee and the Lynll Bay Homo and School Parents' Association waited on tho Minister of Education (the Hon. K. A. Wright) to-day to urge that certain remodelling work should be carried out at Lyall Bay School so as to relieve existing congestion. The Minister promised to have the work done. Mr. T. Forsyth, M.P., introduced the deputation, and said it was no new sugjeet to the Minister to know that accommodation was short at Lyall Bay School. As chairman of the Education Board, Mi1. Forsyth said he knew of its urgency. It was desired to remodel two rooms so as to provide three classrooms. The cost was estimated at about £300. At present a hired hall was used, as well as a building in the school grounds, but the district really needed a new school altogether. The district nras growing so rapidly that this was most necessary, as it was undesirable to have children housed in j unsuitable rooms. Mr. J. C. Biddell said he did not agree that the Lyall Bay School had '•cached the limit in point of numbers. The board had not ascertained what tho effect, of a new school at Tirangi road would be on the present school. The Minister said that if a new school were built it would have to be filled. Mr. Biddell said there wore 812 pupils at Lyall Bay School, -which had 14 rooms, or 58 pupils to a room. The school, therefore, was not being used to its proper capacity on the basis of 45 pupils to ono teacher. There was a waiting list of 31. PRESENT SCHOOL LARGE ENOUGH The Minister said he doubted whether it was much use discussing the question of adding to the present school, which the Department considered large enough. It would be better to concentrate ou building a new school of ten rooms, or whatever was deemed necessary. Tho Department considered that a school of 700 pupils was large enough. Mr. Riddoll said it was estimated that 140 now pupils would have to bo admitted next year. Even if a new. school were built the present school would be needed. Mr. Wright said that there would not be the same urgency for additions if a new school were built. Mr. BiddcH said that the now school was "in the air." The Minister replied that it was no more in the air than the request tho deputation was making. Mr. F. J. Evans said they wanted to fret tho children a.way from St. Judo's Hall and to have the portable school removed from the school grounds so as to give a larger playing area. It would bo two years before they could expect a new school. The Minister said that once unanimity was reached a new school could be built iv much loss than two years. Mrs. H. Q. Bruce, president of the Home Parents' Association, drew attention to the unsatisfactory nature of the sanitary accommodation at St. Judo's. The health of the children attending St. Judo's was suffering She hoped that the Minister would spriously consider the question of adding to tho accommodation at the school. The Minister: "I can't think of that, Mrs. Bruce. Yon have quite a big enough school now. "What you want is another school. Mrs. Bruce urged that tho Minister should at any rate have something done to improve the sanitary arrangements. Mr. H. M. Harris, deputy-chairman of tho School Committee, also spoke of the bad sanitary conditions at St. Jude's Hall, and said that the deputation did not think tho now school would bo wanted at Tirangi road, because it would not relieve tho congestion at Lyall Bay. RELIEVING THE CONGESTION, j Tho Minister said that the congestion would bo relieved if it was insisted that the children should go there. Mr. Harris said that children from 5 to 9 years could not bo sent to Tirangi road. Tho Minister: "Send the bigger children. That would relievo your congestion." In conclusion, Mr. Harris, urged that tho roof of the Lyall Bay School should be attended to, as it leaked very badly. The 'slates would have to bo removed and the roof replaced with iron. Mr. F. W. Boyd thought alterations could be done for £400 or £425. Mr. A. C. Blake, a former headmaster of the school, recomme'uded the retention of tho portablo school, and said he thought that the suggestion to remodel the school was a splendid one. He endorsed what had been said about tho insanitary conditions at St. Jude's. Mr. J. J. Clark supported the remarks of tho previous speakers, and said he did not think a new school at Tirangi road would relieve the. congestion at Lyall Bay as much as he thought it would at one time. Even if a new school were built at Haughton Bay tho position at Lyall Bay wouid not bo helped. The conditions at St. Jude's Hall were deplorable. He was afraid that remodelling alone would not bo enough. The Minister should tako a broad and advanced view and realise that a now two-storied brick school must bo erected on the samo site. To remodel tho school would merely be to temporise with the problem. Mr. Forsyth said that tho Education Board had given careful attention to tho question of how the existing school would be affected by a new schpol at Tirangi road.. It was considered that by altering the boundaries at Lyall Bay proper tho question of diverting children from Lyall Bay could be satisfactorily arranged. He was sorry to hear of the insanitary conditions at St. Jude's, and must plead ignorance of the matter, even though Mr. Evans assured him that he had written to tho board on the subject. In regard to Mr. Clark 'a proposal that a brick school should be built, Mr. Forsyth said that even if this were election year it was inopportune to suggest that the existing building should be done away with. REMODELLING .PROMISED. Eeplying to tho deputation, tho Minister snid that it was curious that from one end of New Zealand to tho other at present he was getting similar requests to that made by the deputation. It looked as though it must be election year. Ho would say definitely that there could be no question of making additions to the present building, but remodelling was quite another issue, and the work would be done. (Applause.) He had been trying his best this year to remodel quite a number of old schools throughout the Dominion. He considered that it would be necessary to erect a new school at Tirangi road, as the congestion at Lyall Bay must bo relieved. If the parents did not agree to send their children to Tiraugi road, that had nothing to do with him. Everyone could not have a school erected alongside his own house. Mr. Clark had suggested that tho Lyall Bay School should be rebuilt

in brick, but he thought that that gentleman must have been indulging in a little humour. Mr. Clark: "There is no humour about it. It is a fact." The Minister said that if Lyall Bay School were to bo rebuilt in brick the same would have to be done with a great number of other schools in the Dominion which were in a far worse position. Mr. Clark: "I suggest that you adopt the broad outlook and gradually replace it with a brick structure." Mr. Wright replied that a brick school would last for 100 years, but he ventured the opinion that in another 25 years there would be a wholly different outlook in regard to building. What would they do with a brick building if in another 25 years the people formed ther idea? The deputation expressed thanks to Mr. Wright for his acquiescence in its request for the remodelling of the present school.