CRITICS ANSWERED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10884, 26 April 1921, Page 8

CRITICS ANSWERED

BY HtlN. G. J. PARR WELLINGTON GETTING “A FAIR DEAL.” GRANTS DETAILED. “Criticism of the Government’s attitude to Wellington is becoming rather a popular pastime in one or two quarters.” said the Minister for Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) yesterday. “Various speakers last week declared that Wellington was not getting a fair deal from the Education Department in respect of school buildings and playing areas. Even our worthy Mayor, Mr J. P. Luke, the other day expressed this riow. I cannot, however, allow the public to bo misled by these statements. The critics as usual speak without knowledge. As a r atter of fact, the Education Department has-treated Wellington particularly well. Recent expenditure m Wellington city and suburbs for educational buildings and playing grounds amoulnted to a total of nearly £213,000. The bulk of this large sum has been granted by the Government within the past couple of years during the regime of myself and my predecessor, oir Francis Bell. Here are the facts. I gise hereunder a list of the schools and opposite each school the amount of public money granted to it by the Government.”

"Last, and by no means least, these grants do not constitute the whole of the Government assistance given to Wellington,” added the Minister. "In addition, a most valuable site, the Mount Cook Barracks site, is being reserved by the Government for educational purposes. 1 Here is being erected the main technical scho.ol. “Again, the old Terrace Gaol is being banded over by the Government to the Education Department. I should point out that in making this site' available for educational purposes the Government is obliged to provide a suitable piece of land and a costly gaol building elsewhere. Further, a most valuable portion of the Defence Department’s property adjoining the Mount Cook school is being given by the Government as a site far a new school. The total value of these three properties easily reachee £50,000. ■'The above facts and figures will show, I hope, that Wellington interests have received special attention from my department. No other centre has had better treatment.”

Berhampore Buildings. £ Sites. £ 1,300 500 10,400 1,5-54 600 Eastern* Hutt Hataitai ... 2,''98 .. 456 ... 1,821 Johnsonville -< 50 1,150 455 623 Kilbirnie Lyall Bay Miramar North Miramar South ... 1,410 ... 16,620 1,957 680 1,870 3,950 1,208 12,500 1,010 379 Muritai ... 6,194 893 5,200 Normal School ... 5,000 433 650 2,160 1,366 6,243 Seatoun Te Arc> ... 1,410 ... 11,299 Wadestown - SECONDARY TTit+f. ... 1,418 SCHOOLS. 210 7,325 Wellington College and Girl? High School ... 9,065 4,o00 UNIVERSITY. Victoria College 42,500 — MANUAL AND TECHNICAL. Wellington Technical ... 15,148 — Lower Hutt (manual) 2,857 — Johnsonville (manual) 747 — Thorndou (manual) ... 100 — Totals . 133,590 65,807 Grand total 199,397