HIGH SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Northern Advocate, 26 March 1926, Page 3

HIGH SCHOOL BUILDINGS

ENLARGEMENT NECESSARY, MINISTERIAL RECOGNITION. Some weeks ago tie Board of Governors of Whangarei Higk School discussed the subject of provision of extra classrooms and other accommodation at the school buildings, when it was arranged that the Minister of Education, Sir James Parr, should be approached upon the subject. Mr H. W. Crawford was authorised to interview the Minister in that connection, but he was unable to do so. A letter was received from the Minister at a meeting of the Board held last night. It stated that the Board’s previous communication with him had fully explained the position. He congratulated the Board on the increasing popularity of the school, which he was sure was fully deserved, and upon, the increased enrolment during the current year. Indeed, while it must bo very gratifying to the Board, it was somewhat embarrassing to the Minister as, much earlier than antici-j pated, ho was called upon to provide an allocation for increased accommodation. He wias, however, fully in sympathy with the Board’s needs though he regretted that for the present he was unable to see his way to include in the hostel buildings a preparation room and recreation room That matter would, however, receiv | further consideration when it was known what allocations were available for buildings during the next financial year. With regard to the . Board’s representations that additional rooms to the uncompleted new' building were necessary, the Minister had obtained a report from the Department, and from that ho was quite clear that four new rooms would be required'at the end of this year. Ho had considered the question of erecting detached wooden rooms to relieve the position at present, but was of opinion that it would be preferable to add permanent classrooms to the new building. Instruction had therefore been given to the Government architect to submit an estimate. The rooms would form part of the central main feature of the completed building, and it would therefore be necessary at once to go carefully into the matter of the subdivision of this important feature.

The Minister could not, at that stage, make any promise whatever that an assembly hall would be erected, That was included in the’-plan, but provision of actual school accommodation must take precedence to assembly halls, no matter how desirable those might bo regarded as being. In his reply the chairman, of the Board, Mr W. A. Carruth, stated that the Minister’s letter was very pleasing and rather assuring, as it gave the Board great hopes for the future. He was nevertheless, much disappointed that the preparation room was not being included in the immediate work. What was the Board to do with the boarders after teatime. There would be no accommodation in the hostel for them, and the only place the Board members could think of was to send them up to the classrooms in the main building, a distance of about 300: yards, in all sorts of weather. , The rooms would be very 1 cold for the pupils to study in, as heating appliances had been cut out of the specifications. For 100 boys it would require three classrooms, entailing supervision of three masters, which meant that the masters would be called upon to work day and night, and. that the Board could not expect them to do. In fact, it would mean that there would soon be no housemasters at all.

If, however, it were impossible to get the preparation room, it would be better to go on with the preparations for the building of the hostel on lines agreed upon, without the preparation room,, in the hope that the last-men-tioned would soon be added. As this room would be • a , separate building from other parts of the hostel, as the cost of the new hostel, would run well into the coming financial year, and as it would be well into the end of this year before _even the hostel building could be completed, was it asking too much that the point be reconsidered. By that time the Minister would have had the new allocations voted, and funds would probably be available. So impressed was the chairman with the absolute necessity of the preparation room that lie suggested an alternative. He asked whether the department would grant them (say) £750 or £BOO for the purpose, and (the board would get the hostel built. Members were convinced that they, could get it done for that. A "flash” building was not wanted. It could be partly unlined and uneeiled, and if need be, the boys could complete the lining, etc. ' For the figure mentioned the board believed that it could obtain a building 60ft by 40ft. In the past the board had succeeded very well —as the Minister knew by personal inspection —in the way in which the present dormitories had been put up and the dining room extended. If the- sum mentioned were granted the board _ could undertake to have the work done well. Mr. Carruth said he had noted ■with great satisfaction that the Minister had given instructions to the Government architect to submit ah estimate of the costs of four rooms to be added to the still uncompleted new building, and that they would form part of the central main feature, or front, of the new block. As there were now 415 pupils on the roll of the senior division, it was hoped that the i additional accommodation would soon

be put in hand. Even if the plans and specifications were drawn at once, by the time tenders were accepted it would be the end of the year before occupation could be taken. The same applied to the hostel. It was unsound policy ,to be paying rent for the accommodation of boarders, which the board was doing, and for outside classrooms in the Parochial Hall, when the school should be self-contained. Besides that, it disintegrated the school and interfered with discipline when the pupils had to get out of the school ground for their class lessons. That condition had been suffered for the last two years, and, as far as Mr. Carruth could see, it was likely to continue for this year again, at least. It was hardly fair to teachers or pupils.

Mr. Carruth said he quite agreed with the Minister about the assembly hall. Much as he would like it, the chairman thought the board could dispense with it till a more convenient season and- push forward the more utilitarian side of the house. He asked that the plans* and specifications of both the hostel and the four new rooms be pushed on, so as to get tenders or schedule work done as early as possible. In a subsequent letter, Mr. Carruth had suggested that it would.be a good idea if the Minister could speed up the Public Works Department and get it to prepare plans and specifications of both the boys’ new hostel and the additional rooms, so that the plans might be sent on to Whangarei to be placed before the Minister on the occasion of his forthcoming visit to the district.

It was stated thait the four rooms mentioned would be absorbed immediately, and that if all asked for were provided there would be lack of accommodation for 82 pupils. There were 415 pupils in the senior division, and consequently it was hoped that the extension would be put in hand at once.

Mr. Rishworth remarked that Mr. Carruth’s letter to the Minister had covered the position very clearly.

No further action was taken in the matter pending the forthcoming visit qf Sir James Parr to Whangarei on Tuesday, when the subject will be fully discussed with him.