USED AS HOSPITALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 128, 26 November 1941, Page 6

USED AS HOSPITALS

EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS

INSTITUTE'S CONCERN

The taking over by hospital boards of educational, buildings, such as the Auckland Teachers' Training College and the new primary school at Hamilton, for use as temporary hospitals was condemned at a meeting in Wellington of the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute.

"As a body keenly interested in the maintenance, in spite of war, of adequate educational facilities as an essential part of our national life, the institute urges that steps be-taken, by the Government to safeguard th,e position," stated the secretary in a letter to the Minister of Education (Mr. Mason). "What seems to be most,desirable is an assurance that teachers' training colleges, school buildings, or other educational institutions will not be requisitioned either by the military authorities or by hospital boards unless the war'situation demands such action and unless no other accommodation can be provided either in other public buildings such as racecourse stands or by temporary buildings such as the clearing hospital in Wellington."

The Minister replied that he realised the importance of the matter and would use his utmost endeavours to secure a restoration of the Auckland Training College to its proper use at the earliest date, said Mr. G. R. Ashbridge,' secretary of the institute, yesterday.