NAPIER SCHOOLS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 307, 11 December 1931, Page 5

NAPIER SCHOOLS

RESTORATION OF BUILDINGS GRANTS APPROVED BY MINISTER TO COMPLETE OUTSTANDING WORKS. (Special to “Tribune.”) Wellington, Dec. 11. An announcement that complete finality has bee i reached in connection with the Hawke’s Bay Education Board’* financial negotiations with the Cabinet in respect to Napier’s schools was made to-day by Mr. W. E. Barnard. M.P.: to a “Tribune” reporter present in Wellington with the iehaHHataon deputation. Mr. Barnard stated that Mr. Masters, Minister of Education, had now approved of grants for the following work: Additions to Napier Central School, repairs to Greenmeadows School, demolition of the Technical School and the erection of a new wooden intermediate school on the Technical site, erection of workshops for the combined boys’ secondary school, erection of domitory accommodation for the boys’ secondary school, reconditioning of the boys’ secondary school, and erection of a new wooden High School for girls on th® existing foundation of the school recently demolished. These grants 'will enable the whole of the outstanding work to be completed. BOARD’S DISCUSSION. CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT. •We have not had a fair or square deal from the Rehabilitation Committee, or the Department, in connection with the restoration of educational facilities brought about by the earthquake,” said Mr G. A. Maddison, chair man, at to-day’s meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board when the question of the restoration of the schools was before the board. Mr Maddison then read the communications that had taken place between the board and the Minister. Continuing, Mr Maddison said that the board was not asking for any additional accommodation, but for the restoration of the buildings damaged. The rolls were now back to normal, and the restoration of the schools was most urgent. He considered that an explanation should be forthcoming from the department in regard to all the delay that was taking place. “I say that there is no man here,” said Mr Maddison, “who could not have fixed the whole thing up months ago. The people here have been most tolerant. The board had a definite promise by the ex-Minister that priority would be given to the restoration of the schools in Hawke’s Bay, and I am particularly dissatisfied with the department in not meeting the education needs of Napier.” Mr Maddison further said that the matter was to be considered by Cabinet last Wednesday, at which meeting the Minister of Education was not present. Mr R. Sainsbury explained that the Minister attended the sitting in the evening. Mr Maddison stated that since the last meeting of the board he had wired the Minister, stating that the people of Tara dale proposed ot hold an indignation meeting in connection with the delay in the erection of the side school. Mr Wauchope pointed out that the department was finding substantial sums to be expended elsewhere on school buildings. The chairman said that £lO,OOO was being spent at Palmerston North and £31,000 at Wanganui. Just at the conclusion of the discussion a telegram was received from tha Minister, stating that Cabinet had approved of grants, the details of which appear in the special message to the “Tribune” at the head of this column. The secretary, Mr W. L. Dunn, stated that the grants, in addition to those also approved for secondary school purposes, . would involve an expenditure of about £23,000.