SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMME

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 6

SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMME

£375,352 SPENT For the year the sum of £375,352 was spent on now school buildings, additions, sites, and teachers’ residences. Of this amount, £247,348 was expended in connection with primary

schools, the largei works- including a new infant department at Meadowbank (Auckland), a new school at Awapuni (Gisborne), and separate secondary. departments at To Karaka and Wairoa (Hawke’s Bay), and at Fairlio (Canterbury). Model schools were established in connection with tho Auckland Training College. Additions to schools have been provided at Taumaranui, New Lynn, Papatoetoe, Ellerslie, Hikurangi, Morrmsville, and Otorohanga, in the Auckland Education district; at Mahora, Hawke’s Bay; and at Elmwood, Canterbury. The erection of numerous small schools in newly-settled districts, nad additions to existing schools, have also been undertaken, especially in those localities where two teachers were compelled to teach in one room While many of the old schools have been remodelled to provide up-to-date conditions, the department, owing to lack of funds, has not been able during last year to carry out its intention to rebuild some of the obsolete city schools, and it is hoped that something in this direction can be done this year. A considerable building programme is being undertaken to provide accommodation for secondary school pupils. During the last year additions were erected at the Mount Albert Boys’ Grammar School, the Hutt High School, and vt the Wairarapa High School. A workshop building .was completed at Marlborough High School, and additional dormitories at the Dannevirke High School Hostel. At the close of the year further additions were in course of erection at Mount Albert, Auckland, and at Dannevirke. A large sum was expended in the erection of buildings for the Massey Agricultural College, and further expenditure wilt be requiied in order to complete this institution. , Additional accommodation and workshops have been added to several technical schools, and additions are in course of erection at Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, and Christchurch. Applications are still being received for grants ior the erection of open-air class rooms, and these are being erected where the localities are considered suitable. information is being collected regarding the children attending these schools, with a view to ascertaining whether this type of building is more suitable to New Zealand conditions than tho standard fresk-air class room. The following table shows for the year ended March 31, 1929, the amount expended by the department on new buildings, additions, sites, and teachers’ residences:— Primary schools ... ... £247,418 Secondary schools 44,382 Technical schools 23,281 Training colleges 2,223 Universities 1,564 Native schools 6,044 Special schools 12,277 Free kindergartens ... 967 Massey Agricultural College _ 32,546 Canterbury Agricultural College ... ... ... 4,650 Total £375,352