NO NEED FOR DELAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 67, 16 February 1939, Page 9

NO NEED FOR DELAY.

PROPOSED INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. An extract from the report of the architect (Mr E. R. Hodge) of the Wanganui Education Board, relating to tho proposed Intermediate School at Palmerston North, presented to the board yesterday, stated: “It is unfortunate that no definite decision has yet been communicated to the board regarding the erection of the new Intermediate School building at Palmerston North. There is ample labour available to carry on this work (in spite of its size) without affecting or inconveniencing other important works of the city.” Commenting on the position, the chairman (Mr E. F. Hemingway) said it seemed the building of the school, to be the "best of its kind in the Dominion, was being delayed simply because tlie board could not get the acceptance by the Minister of the lowest tender. He thought they ought to send an urgent letter to Hon. P. Fraser asking him to expedite the matter so that the board could get on with the building. There was an excuse at one time that they might take labour from other works that were really more urgent, but the board was assured by the contractor that he would not take a single man away from other works. There was plenty of labour and under the circumstances he could not see any reason whatever for this apparently unnecessary delay. It was not in tho interests of the children of Palmerston North that the building of this important school should be delayed a day longer than necessary. Colonel J. H. Whyte pointed out that there was congestion in all the city schools, which was becoming more acute, and the sooner the Intermediate School was completed the sooner the congestion would be relieved. He moved that the facts be placed before the Minister, and the board agreed.