STROM CRITICISM

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 149, 28 June 1929, Page 4

STROM CRITICISM

ADDITIONS TO WELLINGTON

COLLEGE

>. The Education Department's decision . that the. two new wings at Wellington must have an easterly aspect ■was Btrongly criticised in the report presented to the Wellington College Board of Governors by the principal (Mr. W. A. Armour) yesterday afternoon. . The coldest and most uncongenial classrooms and dormitories in the college were those facing the east,- said Mr. Armour, because, throughout the winter, the sun never entered rooms •with an easterly aspect, due to the high hill to the east of the buildings. Added to these discomforts, the new wings were to have high banks on. each side. In this respect, the eastern wing would suffer more.. He believed that insufficient excavation was being carried out, and that much more ground could be iemoved on the eastern side. The spoil could be deposited in the new ground being made, and the site would thus be prepared for the next wing to the east when built. Ait rooms, metalWork rooms, and masters' luncheon ;rooms were unprovided for, and these :feould W proceeded'with, on-the site requiring to be excavated. N ' ■ , ."Only Bft will separate the eastern !side ; of ihe east wing, and the'western side dfi the west wing, from the' ein■bankmentSj which will for some rooms teach up higher than the ceilings," stated Mr. Armour. "Many class rooms will be nothing but vaults in the winter .'time; The board. should therefore demand much additional excavation, as •well as provision for art rooms, metalwork rooms, and other rooms required in the' modern scheme of secondary The Department got an ungxpe'ctedly cheap tender for the work in hand, and another £ 10,000 is necessary to bring the buildings up to date. Pinally,"-it" should 'be noted that' the liew buildings will no more than barely take 1 the classes now housed in the East School and gymnasium block, which are both to be demolished. We have no room for additional pupils, and in fact, we shall have less accommodation in.-the way of rooms than we have HOW. - ■ •..■■■■■ 'School work is now being carried out in these seven class rooms, .-under the most trying conditions, especially in cold and wet weather," reported Mr. Armour. "The : buildings have always been a disgrace to the college as class rooms, and the" time is long overdue for their replacement by properly constructed buildings." The board decided to pay a visit of inspection to the college this afternoon.