NOT NEGLECTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23405, 22 July 1939, Page 16

NOT NEGLECTED

DELAY OVER TENDER • HAMILTON WEST SCHOOL EXPLANATION BY MINISTER "I would bo sorry if your board thought that its correspondence or other representntious were neglected or ignored," stated the Minister of Education,'the Hon. P. Fraser, in'a telegram received by the chairman of- the Auckland Education Board. Mr. W. J. I Campbell, yesterday, in which exception was' tak'eh to- remarks at the last .meeting of the board concerning the department's alleged attitude over the construction of the new Hamilton West School. "I need not assure you that such a statement, or insinuation is incorrect," the Minister added. At the meeting of the board dissatisfaction was expressed at the fact that no reply had been received by the board as to whether construction of the school could be started. Mr. W. A. Snell, who brought the matter up, said he did not mind what the reply was, but he did think the board's letter should bei answered.

Cabinet Approval Needed I In his telegram the Minister stated that owing to the extra grant required to enable the tender for the erection of the school to be accepted, the approval of the Cabinet was. necessary. "i hope to obtain that approva within a few days —in fact .1 expected to have it by Monday—but other most important and urgent Government business had unavoidably to take precedence of departmental matters, lie added. "No time has been lost by me in .pushing forward educational interests, including Hamilton "West's new school building." The Minister said he hoped that Mr. Campbell and members --of the board fully realised the responsibility necessarily attached to a decision where 'public money was concerned. The Chairman's Attitude

Mr. Fraser's statements were confirmed yesterday by Mr. Campbell, who said he had spoken with the Minister by telephone. The Minister had pointed out that the department's architect had visited Auckland early this week in order to discuss with officers of the board the matter of school building works. , , „ . Mr. Campbell said that he fully realised the necessity for Cabinet approval in view of the fact that the lowest tender for the new school building was in excess of the grant authorised by the Government. He pointed out that the tenders were submitted to the department on June 26 and that the letter in question had hot been sent to the Minister as might be inferred from the discussion at the meeting.