NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 305, 23 November 1932, Page 6

NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

EXPENDITURE CONSIDERABLY REDUCED. The expenditure on the erection of school buildings, additions, sites, and teachers’ residences was considerably reduced during the year, the expenditure for the financial year being £259,149, as against £501,344 for the year ended March 81, 1931, says the annual statement of the Public Works Department. Owing to the limited funds available, only the most urgent requirements are being considered, and no doubt when the Dominion returns to normal there will be increased demands to overtake arrears of work. A summary of the more important works carried out is as follows: —The rebuilding of the Wellington Boys’ College, Te Aro Main School (Wellington), Takaka and Nelson Central (iSelson), and Blackball (Canterbury) was completed, aud additional accommodation has been provided at Christchurch West (Canterbury), Greymouth, and Feilding Technical Schools. Hostels were completed at the Nelson Boys’ College and the Wanganui Technical School, and further accommodation was erected at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School Hostel. Large works were in progress at New Plymouth Central (destroyed by fire); additions at Kurow (Otago), Oxford. (Canterbury), Palmerston North Central (Wanganui), Rangiora High School, Nelson Girls’ College, Takapuna Grammar School, Otahuhu Junior High School, and at the Petone Technical School. 1

Progress has been made with the restoration of schools damaged in the Hawke’s Bay earthquake, schools having been rebuilt in wood at Hastings West, Napier Central, and Nelson Park. The reconditioning and strengthening of the Hastings High School was completed. During the year under review the sum of £7770 was spent out of the Government Fire Insurance Fund to replace and repair school buildings and residences destroyed or damaged by fire. The following shows for the year ended March 31, 1932, the net amount expended on new buildings, additions, sites, and teachers’ residences: —Public schools £124,944, secondary schools £63,649, technical schools £44,306, training colleges £1228, native schools £14,433, schools for mentally backward £199, child-welfare institutions £714, kindergartens £54, Massey Agricultural College £9622; total, £259,149.