Waste of Time Attending High School Board, Say Members

Northern Advocate, 31 May 1939, Page 8

Waste of Time Attending High School Board, Say Members

“ipOR TWO YEARS WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A NEW GIRLS’ HOSTEL AND A NEW GIRLS’ SCHOOL, BUT OUR REQUESTS HAVE BEEN DEFERRED TIME AFTER TIME UNTIL I AM HEARTILY SICK OF THE WHOLE BUSINESS.

“New the girls arc facing another winter under deplorable conditions. In view of the public protest made last winter, I am not prepared to take office cn a board or body having to administer things as bad as tins.”

These remarks wore made by Dr. J. W. Hall at last night’s meeting of the Whangarci High School Board of Governors.

“It is a waste of time attending C

board meetings,” bo went on. “The position is farcical, and there is nothing to justify me asking householders to return me again as one of their representatives. Wc are able to achieve nothing and I will not be prepared to accept nomination again if this state of affairs is to continue.

“Conditions at the girls’ school are shocking,” he concluded. Grave Concern Felt Several members of the board expressed grave concern at the manner in which the board’s urgent requests for improved conditions were being treated by the Education Department. Mr. H. C. Rishworth, chairman of the board, declared that the time had come when the public should know why so little progress was being made in regard to essential improvements at the.school. A Waste of Time “Letters are written to the heads of the departments and even to the Minister,” he said. ‘‘No replies are received, however. Some files disclose that as many as five letters have been written on urgent matters without any “It seems a waste of time conducting the affairs of the board,” he concluded.

Outward correspondence concerning a number of applications for authorities and subsidies was read at the meeting, and the discussion arose out of the manner in which this correspondence had been dealt with. One matter mentioned was that of floor coverings, first representations concerning which had been made in June cf last year.

In March, 1939, a reply had been received from the Minister stating that he would consider having the matter expedited. Nothing had been heard on this point since the board wrote on May 3.

Tn July, 1935, th*o board had taken up the matter of steel window frames. The Public Works Department had suggested that a temporary overhaul be undertaken and that other work bo gone aheao with in recess. This other work was not done in re-r-ss and the frames were stated now to bo in a very bad condition, 80 panes of glass being broken. Urgent Requirements On May 3 the board wrote stressing the need for having this work carried out, particularly as the winter was coming on and the windows were not weatherproof. Nothing further had been heard from the department of this request.

Concerning the new structures proposed at the girls’ school, the last communication received by the board from the department was on April 6 when it was stated that the P.W.D. had been requested to prepare plans and specifications. On May 3 the Minister had written to Mr. Barclay stating that his department would get in touch with the P.W.D. with a view to having the matter expedited. As a result of last night’s discussion, the Minister is again to be communicated with.