A NEW SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 4

A NEW SCHOOL

FOR WELLINGTON SOUTH

"We have the record of having the worst school in' the Dominion," said Mr. E. McKeen, M.P., at the laying of the foundation-stone this morning of the Wellington Free Kindergarten's new building at Owen Street. "I refer to the Wellington South primary school, The school is one of the oldest in New Zealand, and the partitions between the classrooms are rotting away.

"I have been a member for Wellington South for thirteen years, and have approached four Ministers of Education to try-and have the building replaced. They all promised that it would be done, but nothing has eventuated. I recently had the pleasure of approaching the fifth, and he assured me that a new building is to be erected." '

"It is a serious state cf affairs when our school buildings are likely to fall down on their own accord," said the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Education. The present Government believed in talking after, not before, the job' was done. He could say, however, that as far as the resources of the country would permit, the present Government would see to it that a fair proportion would go to education.

"I wish it could, be said that education was the most urgent question confronting us," said Mr. Fraser.: "The most pressing need, however, is food, clothing, and shelter. The sustaining of the body must always precede intellectual development."