MINISTER APPROACHED

Evening Star, Issue 23100, 28 October 1938, Page 16

MINISTER APPROACHED

REMODELLING OF HIGH STREET SCHOOL OBJECTIONS BY COMMITTEE SUGGESTED REBUILDING Varying opinions concerning the remodelling of the High Street School at a cost of £3,000 were expressed when the Minister of Education (Hon. PFraser) met deputations from the Otago Education Board and the High Street School Committee yesterday. The Minister, after hearing the views of both bodies, suggested that the question of remodelling might be held over until a thorough search had been made for an alternative site fur the school. The deputations were introduced to the Minister by Dr D. G, M'Millan, M.R. Mr S. F. Cameron, representing the School Committee, said that when the question of remodelling was raised the committee did not see the plans and was not informed of the amount that was to be spent. The committee understood that the sum to be spent was £3,000, but did not consider that the present building was worth the expenditure of that amount of money. Opened in 1887, it was old-fashioned, cold, and draughty, and without electric light, and some of the rooms never received the sun. Most of the remodelling was planned to take place on the cold side of the building. The committee wondered whether, even if it meant waiting a year or two, it might not be possible to have a new school built, possibly on the same site. Jt would only desire to have the remodelling held up, however, if there was a chance of a new school being built. The Minister said that before long he hoped to return to Dunedin, possibly in company with the Director of Education (Mr N. T. Lambourne), and have a conference with the Otago Education Board concerning its whole programme tor the next three years. Possibly the question might be discussed then.

“ I would strenuously oppose any suggestion that an up-to-date school should be built on the present site,” said the chairman of . the Education Board (Mr James Wallace). “If you could get another site 1 would be in favour of the erection of a new school. We want better accommodation in the High Street School, but we do not think it is wise to build a new school on a cramped site of that kind. We do not think that the school as it is now should be absolutely scrapped. It may be best to hold the proposal up for another 12 months, by which time a new body altogether will be operating in Otago.” The Minister said that if there was a possibility of getting another site he would be agreeable to hold up the remodelling. He suggested that every effort j should be made to ascertain whether another site was available, and stated that ho would inspect the school before leaving Dunedin. A QUESTION OF GROUNDS The Minister later received a deputation from the Otago High Schools Board, and had a short discussion with the members of the deputation on the subject of grounds improvement.