Who has held up Girls’ School and Hostel? Case for Board

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1938, Page 6

Who has held up Girls’ School and Hostel? Case for Board

muE RECENT PUBLIC MEETING HELD IN WHANGAREI TO MAKE * PROTEST AGAINST THE APPAI LING CONDITIONS PREVAILING AT THE WHANGAREI GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE APPEAL MADE TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMEN I TO HONOUR ITS LONG DELAYED PROMISE TO ERECT AN UP-TO-DATE SCHOOL AND HOSTEL. HAVE BEEN SEIZED UPON BY “N.Z. TR UTH” AS THE SUBJECT OF A SENSAT lONAL ARTICLE. "N.Z. Truth” states that it interviewed the Minister of Education, the Hon. Peter Fraser, who made the fol lowing statement: “ ‘What I cannot understand is that the people of the district tolerated such shocking buildings for such a long time. I was simply amazed at what I saw on my recent visit, and immediate instructions were given for the replacement of the school and hostel.’ ”

Extract From Article. The article goes on as follows: "Mr Fraser gave an assurance to ‘Truth’ that the draft plans would be sent immediately for the approval of the board, emphasising that the big strain which had been placed on the architectural branch of the Department, owing to the shortage of draughtsmen, had made it impossible to do this before. “Mr Fraser pointed out that from December G, 1935, to March 31, 1938. the sum of £1,380,066 had been expended in grants for school buildings and sites, while in the two years 1932-33 and 1933-34. the amount of grants authorised for school buildings and sites was £109.346. This showed that the Government was fully alive to the importance of providing adequate school accommodation, but the increased work could not be coped with by the Education and the Public Works Departments. "The Education Department had advertised for draughtsmen, but the only applicant was an officer of the P.W.D., and the second advertisement had been no more successful. Authority had been given to advertise in Australia, but the Minister was not hopeful of any response from there. "The Minister said that he was amazed that the people in Whangarei had tolerated for so long a school building that was so grossly inadequate in every way. It is unfortunate for Whangarei that there are so many others that have needed rebuilding. but it will be difficult to imagine that any of them could be in a worse state.” The “Truth” article concludes with the following paragraph: “It is to be regretted that it will necessarily be some time before a start is made in remedying a grossly scandalous state of affairs, but it is gratifying to know that these buildings, which the people of Whangarei should regard as a gross affront to themselves, that they have been used for a school for so long, will make way for an up-to-date structure.” BOARD OF GOVERNORS’ EFFORTS. In view of the obvious attempt to swing responsibility for the existing state of affairs on the people of Whangarei rather than upon the Education Department, it is interesting to recall the efforts which have been made by the Board of Governors since the year 1936, when the lifting of the depression so increased the number of students at the school that accommodation, which had previously been sufficient, became quite inadequate. In 1932 the number of girls in residence at the hostel was 33, in 1933, the number was 14. and in 1934-35, it stood at 24. Then, in 1936. the attendance rose to 41. In 1937 il became 53. and the then Medical Officer of Health limited the number at the girls’ hostel to 50. In 1937 the situation became serious, the number ot boarders at the hostel being 53. The Minister of Education was communicated with, and he promised to visit the school, which he did at the end of June in that year 11937). After inspection, lie promised a new hostel for girls, and the nucleus of a new school for girls.n He made strong comment on the condition of the girls hostel. Some convspoiu.ience look place regarding the type of'building to be erected. Then the Department s architect visited the site of the school in March of this year After his vnsrt.

the board definitely fixed tiro site for both buildings. Some departmental delay then took place, but plans ot hostel arc now in the hands of the board.

The efforts or the Board of Governors to secure the Minister's cooperation in the provision of a new school and hostel for girls dates back to December 18, 1935, when the board extended to the Hon. Peter Fraser their congratulations upon his appointment as Minister of Education and invited, him to visit the school at a date suitable to him. On April 30, 193 G, Mr J. G. Barclay, acting on behalf of the board, got into personal touch with the Minister of Education, pointing out the unsuitability and inconvenience of the present girls school, which was a particularly old building, portions having been in use for 50 years. The following arc brief extracts from minutes of meetings the Board of Governors held in 1936;February 24: Invitation to the Hon. P. Fraser to visit the school. March 31; Minister asked to inspect girls’ school and lavatories block. April 28: Minister replied that he was giving consideration to the new girls’ school. December 1: No word re visit of the Hon. Minister. The following are extracts from minutes of meetings held in 1937:—r March 10: Dr. Cook reported on the condition of the girls’ hostel. March 19: Minister requested to visit the school. April 6: Minister unable to visit school, but stated ha would instruct his departmental officers to investigate girls’ school and hostel, and report.

April 27: The Minister advised that he had instructed his officers to report on the accommodation at the girls’ hostel, and the department wrote asking for additional report re accommodation. The secretary sent a full report to tire Minister. June 1: No reply received regarding the hostel. Copy of the report from the principal sent to the Minister through Mr J. G. Barclay, M.P. June 29; Mr Barclay advised that the Minister would visit the school on June 30, 1937. August 11: Girls’ hostel site selected. Board wrote to department re the question of having school and buildings joined. September 7: The department advised that it did not approve of joint buildings. September 28: The department advised that the Public Works Department had been instructed to erect a dormitory at the girls’ hostel, and that the P.W.D. had been instructed to prepare plans of a now school and hostel. October 26: Arrangements confirmed for now hostel and two rooms, new school. New hostel plans for P.W.D. held over, pending information from the Minister regarding the type of building. November 30: No reply from the Hon. Minister re school; re asking P.W.D. for plan of hostel; or re placmg of .siek-room, do. December 22; Minister replied that tin: type of school would be the same as that sketched at Dunedin. The P.W.D. staled the Government Architect had the preparation of sketch plan ox new hostel on hand.

Following are extracts from minutes of meetings held during 1038; — February 22: Letter from Minister re class of school building, staling that the architect would visit the school and discuss matters with the board. The secretary was instructed to write pointing out that the matter was urgent. March 16: Interview with Mr Savage. architect. He stated that the Minister’s policy was that school buildings would bo erected in wood. Mr Savage added that the classroom known as the “tin shed” would be removed and six classrooms erected as the nucleus of a two-storeyed wooden building. Site for girls’ new school, left to full meeting of the board. March 29: School site selected. May 3: Site for girls’ new hostel confirmed to the department, stating that the north-east corner of the girls’ grounds had already been fixed. No reply re girls’ new school. The secretary was instructed to write to the department and to Mr Barclay. May 21: No reply re new school. The secretary was instructed to write to the Minister. June 28: No reply from the department to letters dated 7th inst., and 15th inst., re school. Wire from the department stating that sketch plans would be forwarded when received from the P.W.D. A resolution conveying the board’s protest at the delay was sent to the Minister per Mr Barclay. July 22; New hostel plan received. (Editorial Comment on Page 4.)