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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144858, 9 December 1915, Page 2

Tho position in tho Balkans is not dpi eloping very rapidly. Mo know that tho Allies have accomplished little as yet, and wc suspect that the AustroGerman'forces aro not progressing fast, because the Germans are talking a good deal about their successes in the *ar j generally, a sign that there aro no recent victories to chronicle. AVo may assume that Lord Kitchener has signified approval of both tho Salonika and Dardanelles campaigns and that the four allied Powers are all doing their share to bring them to a successful issue. It is a very slow process moving troops hy sea to Salonika and the railway and roads aro incapable of handling a large traffic in winter. Every day that Greece remains inactive is a gain to tho Allies. Bulgaria, it is stated, would prefer that the Central Powers should deal with the Allies, and Germany and Austria at present have not too many men to spare for the cam. paign. The reports of activity on the part of Russia havo ceased, and Rollmania stilt maintains her policy of masterly inactivity. The position of the Allies at Salonika is not, altogether free from anxiety, but the possibility of Houmaniii suddenly taking the Held on (he side of the Entente must give the German General Staff the deepest apprehensions. There is no reason why General Joffre should not plan another surprise in the west and push the advantage pained at Lons and in Champagne. Such a success would have a salutary effect on the views of the Balkan States. Altogether the position in tho Balkans is most interesting and, though a speedy triumph for the Allies is not probable, there is nothing to indicate that Germany is going to have a walk-over. It is certain that Britain

needs every man available, but those who draw pictures of an invasion of Egypt and a German advance to the Persian Gulf aro simply going out of their way to foresee misfortune, a process which generally goes some way towards securing it.

On Monday night the High School Board of Governors will bo called upon to decide whether they will build in concrete or wood, or whether they will modify their building programme in accordance with available ■ means. Of the throe courses open the least desirable is to build in wood. Sorry as wo should bo to sec the programme curtailed, it would bo hotter so, we think, than to build in wood. Even supposing that concrete costs twenty or twentyfive per cent more in the first place than wood, the initial saving made by adopting tho latter material would soon be exhausted by the higher cost of upkeep, insurance, etc. Wo have no actual figures to guide ua, but assuming that the girls’ school and boarding establishment will cost £4OOO in wood and £'sooo in concrete, wo feel convinced that a saving of £SO a year in interest (five per cent on £1000) effected by building in' wood would be more than counterbalanced in a very few years by tho cost of repairs, painting, etc. The small item of insurance alone would absorb quite a material proportion of tho saving. Then there is tho safety of tho girls to be considered. A concrete boarding establishment is much safer than one built of wood and this is not a factor to bo ignored. But the principal factors aro the comparative cost of maintenance and the durability. A concrete building will outlast a wooden J ono many times over, while tho cost of maintenance is trifiing as compared with the cost of repairs (after a few years) and painting in tho case of wooden buildings. We cannot think that the Board of Governors will hesitate a moment in deciding to build in the more permanent material. Whether tho cost of budding the whole of the premises contemplated in concrete can bo met is another question and a more difficult ono. If the Government would cany out the promises made by previous Ministers of Education there would, wo understand, be no difficulty, but tho present state of tho L)ominion ) finances and tho absence, or supposed absence, of an absolute promise in black and white, aro urged against a grant just now. Tho money in, however, not required non-. Indeed, if the Government would give a distinct undertaking to pay tho money next year, eleven the year after, and in tho meantime would pay back interest on the amount, the Board could proceed without difficulty. The alternative is to cut down the plans to some extent. Whether this is possible without spoiling them wc do not know, but whatever is built should be of tho most permanent character, as being the cheapest in the long run.