THE SOUTH SCHOOL

Southland Times, Issue 18809, 30 April 1920, Page 6

THE SOUTH SCHOOL

NO SIGN OF BUILDING. REFERENCEvS TO “INFLUENCE" AND “LABOUR.” A new South School has been advocated by the committee for the last 15 years, according to Mr John Stead, and, apart from the splendid infant building erected some years ago, nothing of a material nature has resulted. The committee felt, continued Mr Stead, speaking to a Times representative, that it was principally as a result of their efforts that £SOOO had been allocated by the Department for building a new school Then | the committee had been promised that the work of erection would be undertaken immediately. Nothing had resulted. The Board had then promised that it would be started during the holidays. There were no signs of it. For some time the committee had had the impression that influence was at work to prevent the decisions of the Board, as manifested in its resolutions, from being carried out. Surely the committee was not asking for a new toy, but for a building to replace one 45 years old! THE BOARD’S CASE. The secretary of the Education Board (Mr G. Stevenson) said “labour difficulties,” when asked why the work was not being proceeded with. “We have to keep 380 buildings in repair," he continued, “ond two or three schools have been burnt down, their pupils being taught in balls. Our workmen cannot cope with the demand, so we called tenders three weeks ago. No replies were received. Wo have not lost sight of the South School, and the work will be proceeded with when we can procure workmen; the want of bricklayers s the chief obstacle,”