MOUNT COOK SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 54, 12 September 1928, Page 21

MOUNT COOK SCHOOL

NEW CLASSROOM COMPLAINTS TO MINISTER Tho need for a new infant classroom and for improvements to the conveniences at tho Mt. Cook School wero emphasised by a deputation from the. school committee which waited on tho Minister of Education on Monday afternoon. . , r In introducing the deputation, Mr. P. Eraser, M.P. for Wellington Central, said that representations had been made to the Department from time to time, but owing to the possibility of a new school being erected at Newtown the improvement of the infant school at Mt. Cook had been deferred. They thought the time had now arrived when the matter should be settled one way or the other. Remarking that the school was quito out of date, badly lighted, badly designed, and always falling into disrepair, Mr. R. Simpson pointed out that two hundred children were accommodated in the infant school, while the conveniences were a menace and a scandal, boing too near the main building, and too small. Continual complaints had been made, but nothing had been done. Mr. A. Blair and Mr. J. B- Hurley supported tho representations. • The MimsfcT(tno'Hoh': lf.:"A Wright); in replying, referred, to tho commercialisation of the Buckle street area, pointing out that already a number of people had been removed from the vicinity of Tory street, and added that this had been causing tho Department and the Education Board some anxiety in regard to the Buckle Street School. That was tho only reason why they Had hesitated about tho erection of an infant school at' Mt, Cook. If a new school wero erected at John street it must have an effect oh the attendance at Buckle street. Finality must be reached in regard to the South Wellington School, and on the decision would depend whether a new infant school was to be erected at Mt. Cook or not. Mr. Wright said be realised that tho infant school at Mt. Cook was out of date. Ho gave an assurance that the feuce in front of tlie school would be attended to, but the question. of conveniences was one for the board rather than the Department. It would be a waste of money if buildings were erected and it then became necessary to abandon the school. As soon as finality was reached in regard to the John Street School they would know -where they stood. Mr. Fraser: "Will that.be very long'/" Mr. Wright: "I do not think so. Tho question will have to be settled very soon." -