SCHOOL SHELTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1942, Page 6

SCHOOL SHELTERS

URGENCY OF WORK

Difficulties in the way of providing air-raid shelters for schools in vulnerable areas were discussed by the Wellington Education Board today and members, .agreeing that the urgency of the work was great, decided to ask for permission to employ additional supervising s.»xff. Il was pointed put that while School committees were willing to help with the making of shelters they were being prevented from proceeding or their work was being partly wasted because of the lack of expert supervision.

Communications received from the Education Department advised the board regarding the areas considered particularly vulnerable. The board was instructed to confer with: the District Engineer of the Public Works Department and prepare a policy for the erection of shelters. When a scheme for a school was prepared the board was to apply to . the Department for permission to proceed' with, the work. The board was requested to make use of the' assistance of school committees where offered. The Government wOuld be responsible for the cost of approved works.

A later letter from the; Department advised that" work approved by the district engineer could -be -proceeded

with without further reference to the Department. The work was. to be done by the board under the supervision of the district engineer and the Government would refund the cost.

A better from the Associated School Committees of Eastern Suburbs stated that the committees had agreed that the board should be urged to make immediate provision at each school in their area for first-aid equipment and emergency rations, and if supplies were not forthcoming by, February 25 the committees would purchase the necessary equipment and forward the accounts to the board. The committees also asked for additional firefighting equipment at, their schools. "HOLDING A PISTOL." The chairman (Mr. W. V. Dwyer) said the board had done its utmost to get emergency equipment. They had taken up the matter with the Department. The letter was holding a pistol at their heads and was not the type of letter that ■ should be sent to the board. They had. no funds for, and no authority to provide for, such supplies, but they were trying to get the Department to take all necessary action. It was agreed that the committees should be advised that the board would repudiate the accounts if the action threatened *was taken. Mr. T. K. Moody raised the question of transport .and said that provision had not been made for certain schools. The chairman said that was disquieting, but he had been informed that petrol had been issued for one school. • Mr. Moody said that was not known, because the people of the district had talked of organising the parents to march to Parliament and camp in the grounds and stay there uritil something was clone. The chairman said the matter should be taken up with the E.P.S. authorities." ' •■••'-,'•■:■■■■. OVERRUN WITH APPLICATIONS. The board also considered applications, from individual schools. The secretary (Mr. •W. I. Deavoll); said the .office was overrun with- applications for, instructions, and could not handle the • work. r Where school committees .were : anxious .to do the: work , they should -not be discouraged, but when a school committee applied for - material the board had. to get, authority for the expenditure, and the result was that the work was held up or spoiled by being half-done.

Colonel McDonald said it was not humanly possible to do the work,with the present staff, arid' they should apply to the Department for authority to engage extra staff to undertake the essential duties of protecting the. children. He moved that the board, should apply for extra staff, and. Mr. Moody seconded the motion.

The chairman said he was agreeable to; that course, arid suggested that they should advise. the schools concerned that the work to be '. done would be undertaken in order. of urgency.

This course was agreed to,