TONE DISLIKED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22470, 4 January 1943, Page 2

TONE DISLIKED

Newtown Air Raid Shelters

School Committee And Education Board

General disapproval of the tone of a letter received from the hon. secretary of the Newtown School Committee concerning the provision of airraid shelters at the school was expressed at a meeting of the Wellington Education Board. It was decided to write informing the committee that regret was felt that the letter, which was considered unwarranted under the circumstances, should have been sent to the board, and that the position be explained to the committee. The letter forwarded to the board read, in part:— u My committee are sick and tired of the way the matter has been sidetracked. We definitely want to know if the matter has been shelved, and request a forthright answer. We are aware that authority has been given for the construction of air-raid shelters at our school, but that to date no contract has been let. My committee want to know why? The position concerning air-raid shelters is on all fours with the condition of the school grounds, and the position regarding the new Infant school. Our reservoir of goodwill is at a low ebb through broken promises. ‘ We expect to be treated as any normal school committee expects to be treated, and refuse to be side-tracked. Failing action being taken immediately. we will be left with no option but to explain the matter before a public meeting.”

The board chairman, Mr W. V. Dyer, said that it had no more control than anyone else over the priority of erection of shelters, and some schools in the vulnerable area were still without them, because it was impossible for manpower to be made available. He did not care how many public meetings were called, because he and other members of the board could justify its position. Disapproval should be expressed at the tone of the letter and the statement made that the board did not accept the indictment. Mr N. R. Seddon said he thought the school committee themselves would agree, in any case, that it was doubtful. under present circumstances, whether there was justification for the expenditure of substantial sums on new air-raid shelters.