SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 May 1925, Page 5

SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION.

IN SOUTH TARANAKI. .At yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki education Board, applications were received from three schools m Sonth Taranaki, asking for increased accommodation owing to increase in attendance. The.schools affected were: Hawera, Kapuni and Manaia. According to figures supplied by the Hawera School Committee, the roi number showed 662 pupils, while the floor space worked out at 8130 square feet. It was pointed out at the meeting that the Education Department only recognised average attendances, and not the total number on the roll. Board members, however, were of opinion that the Hawera School Oommittee’.s application deserved some consideration, particularly as part of the building was very old, and on account of the bad lighting in the rooms at the back of the school. It was decided that the chairman, Messrs H. J. Eaves and A. Lees be appointed a committee to inquire into, the matter and report at the next meeting. At Kapuni the attendance had also greatly increased. It was not clear, however, whether this increase was likely to be permanent, or was due temporarily to the railway _ works at present being carried out in the district. If the increase was dne to the latter, it was thought the position might be got over by making some temporarv arrangement, for accommodation. —The matter was referred to Mr A. Lees, with power to act. At Manaia School the position was rather acute, the average attendance this year so far being 236, while the floor space available ,in the school was 2544 square feet. As this worked out under the regulation allowance of 12 square feet per pupil, it was decided that the architect be instructed to prepare plans and that application bo made to the Department for a grant to cover the cost of erection of an additional room.