MINISTERIAL VISIT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 65, 28 February 1930, Page 6

MINISTERIAL VISIT

HON. H. ATMORE AT NAPIER MEETS TECHNICAL SCHOOL BOARD. BUILDING QUESTION SETTLED. That the delay in the erection of the new Napier Technical College buildings was in no way the fault ot the present Government was the assurance given by the Hon. H. Atmore, Minister of Education, to a deputation from the College Board of Governors which waited upon him last night. Urging that the whole of the new building should be put in hand immediately, the deputation pointed out the difficulty that the board was experiencing in keeping faith with the agreement with the Napier Borough Council that the buildings should be erected by June next.

The deputation was introduced by Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P., who expressed appreciation of the close attention that the Minister was giving to all matters relative to education. He thanked the Minister for bringing about substantial grant for the first portion of the new building so urgently needed in the town. CONTINUOUS DELAY. Referring to the inadequacy of the present school buildings, Mr A. G. Ballot, in explaining the agreement existing between the Napier Borough Council and the board, stated that an arrangement was made about ten years ago, but to within three year a ago no definite move was made by the Education Department to commence building operations. The council became dissatisfied through the continued delay and threatened to withdraw the offer regarding the site unless something was done. Eventually the then Prime Minister, m a letter to the Borough Council dated May 19, 1.926, approved of the conditions arranged by a conference between the bodies concerned which, together with other things, contained the following conditions:—“That the Government should give an assurance that within four years the present Technical School buildings and site will be sold and the proceeds, with an additional grant of £3OOO, used to provide new buildings on the new site.”

It was also agreed to satisfy thfe minds of the councillors that the school buildings, to cost not less than £20,000, be erected.

A VERY PRESSING MATTER. Mr Pallot urged the Minister to give immediate attention to the matter to arrange for the erection of the complete school buildings to be proceeded with, with all expedition, and that the present buildings and property be offered for sale so as to comply with the agreement entered into with the council, which arrangements must be prosecuted with urgency in view of the now very limited time available for its execution.

UNSUITABLE PLANS. The Minister, in reply, stated that he was in agreement that there was a pressing need for the erection of the new building and he assured the deputation that their needs had not been overlooked. In regard to the delay which had been occasioned, it could not be attributed to him, except for his refusal to accept the plans that were first prepared, on the grounds that they were not of the imposing and dignified type that the New Zealand people like to associate with education. In every way they were most unsuitable. The preparation of new plans had occasioned some delay on account of the architectural division of the Public Works Department being several months behind in its work. The deputation had really asked him to make good in four months the two and a-half years in which nothing had been done. There was not a builder in New Zealand who could build it in that time, even if the specifications were ready. The building that was to be erected was to be an imposing and expensive one, costing more than the £20,000 that the former Government had allowed. They would find that the first grant would nearly total that amount. The previous plans would have provided an inadequate building, quite unworthy of the cause of education. The Minister then suggested that the board should meet the council in order to see if tome arrangement could not be arrived at, as it could be seen that it would be impossible to have the buildings completed within the required time. If the meeting was arianged at a convenient time he would personally attend. He was pleased to know that the council and the board were working together. Local bodies, he said, throughout New Zealand, were always willing to collaborate in the cause of education. He could assure the board that there would be no delay in the acceptance of tenders for the first portion of the building. INCREASING SCHOOL ROLL.

Mr Barnard stated that what the board really desired to know was whether the new building will proceed continuously. There was every necessity for additional accommodation, as the school roll was increasing to

an extent which could not be approached by any other school in the town.

The Minister did not anticipate that there would be any difficulty in that respect The present grant would not be expended before the end of the present financial year, and then next year another grant would be probably forthcoming.