ADVANCE EDUCATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12757, 29 September 1919, Page 3

ADVANCE EDUCATION.

,FRESH AIR SCHOOL 1 AT SUMNER. “THE FINEST IN CANTERBURY.” A pleasurable ceremony was performed! at Sumner on Saturday afternoon- A large number of residents ot the borongh gathered together to witness the opening of a new fresh air school. Mr I>. Lumsden, chairman of the School presided, and in his opening remarks welcomed the people *- i -d thanked them for the interest they showed by their presence. He said that a nation was judged by its standard of education, and he urged the boys and girls present to take lull advantage of their present-day opportunities. Referring to the recent remarks of Sir Francis Bell, Minister of Education, he said that he hoped sincerely that deputations would still be welcomed at headquarters. The Department could not know the wishes of the people without personal contact, and the abolition or discouragement of deputations would be a retrograde step. 'He then read apologies for absence and congratulations from Mr J. M'Combs, M.P., Mr IV- A. Banks (exchairman of the Canterbury Education Board), Mr A. Holden (chairman of Redcliffs School Committee), Mr H. C. Lane (secretary Canterbury Education Board), and Mr G. Penlington (architect to the Canterbury Education Board). .

Mr E. H. Andrews, chairman of the Education. Board, who had just returned from the conference of boards in Wellington, said that he was very pleased to be hack in time for the function. He felt particularly honoured to be asked to. open the new school. The late head master, Mr AtJ. Kerr, had been a fellow student with him at college, and he bad never lost interest in Sumner. He felt very gratified that the desires of the present committee had at last been realised, and he hoped that other new rooms in the future would replace the older portion. The present building hal been built entirely by the staff of the Canterbury Education Board. In Mr G. Penlington, the architect, and Mr B. Biley, the supervisor, they had men who would see to it that the best material alone was used even thougn the cost were perhaps a little above the estimates. Picked timber had been used, and the workmanship was the best to he obtained. Referring to the recent conference of Education Boards in Wellington, lie said that there was a general agitation for change. There was room for it, but the Education Boards had registered a strong protest against the abolition of local government m education. There was no control that could be better than local control. He had told the conference of schools that had raised Upwards of £1350 locally for improvements. He was perfectly sure that, if school committees were abolished, the country would be the poorer for it. "With regard to finance, he noticed that the Bill before Parliament had increased the incidental allowance La , bcoool committees by £6OOO. In this matter he thought that for “ Heathen Chmeeism” the Departmental office , couM not be beaten, because they bad , compensated for this apparent increase ; by reducing the administration. ex- ■ penses by a similar £6OOO. In the case of the new building, the Department had made a gran fc, but it was not enough. .Why districts bad to raise money for education he did not know, but the £2OO raised locally had been supplemented by further sums from • Hie Board of Education, and the work ■ had been proceeded with. Ho was pleased Sumner had such an up-to-dale and hygienic school. It was not a bit more than they deserved. J. Jamieson, a member of the Education Board, said that it did not seem long since he and Mr C. H. Opie had opened a new room in 1914. Ho advised Sumner to raise all the funds an J protect its own propertyThe first building on the grounds had been built in 1876, with additions in •1891, 1912, and 1914. Unless the resi- ; denis had agreed to give substantial financial assistance, the Department would not have agreed to the size of the present building. He then detail- : ed the construction of the new rooms and heirtily congratulated Mr Lumsden and the School Committee upon ; their achievement in securing such a handsome and useful type of structure. the Hon J. Barr, Mayor of Sumner, ■ expressed his pleasure at being pre--1 sent. It was seventeen years since he was chairman of the Sumner School Committee, and then most of the time was taken up by writing and ‘forming deputations to the board. He would remind the members of the hoard than a very fine opportunity was lost some seven years ago, when a new site for tne school had been turned down, oumner was going to boom. Ihere ( -would bo a very big population in a Tew years, and there should be room m the grounds for garden plots, phy,slcal and games. It might he very difficult to get this now. There was generally speaking, a lack of mforest in public affairs, but he hoped Hus would not be the only occasion when Sumner would prove equal to paying a little for its independence He referred in, eulogistic terms to the d ?? e th A Present chairman and to Mr E. G. Wood, who preced-'d him, and urged all to take an active antl hvoly interest in educational affairs m the borongh. "3. /’ Williams said that the chairman * had worked hard for the building they wore opening. Sumner niff 011 proud of teaching staff, and he congratulated ail corwonldfT 11 the g ?° d resnlte that would follow upon the use of the new premises He paid special tribute to the contribution made bv the S+-,f« St? the n “ ral The head master. Mr G. F Allen said that bumner had set its hand to fc n ol * dunQ S the Great War and should he proud that, while Vfcfo issues were at stake in Europe, it had been successful m doing something f or the rising generation of a victorimination, in spite of very strenuous and trying circumstances. He thanked the comnutfoe, the residents and the staff for their loyal support throughMr Andrews then unlocked the door of the mam entrance with a silver kev building ah joining m singino- the National Anthem. & 'Hie new structure is of a well proportioned bungalow type, and consists of three rooms 30ft x 20ft, 2oft x. “rift , and 24ft x 24ft respectively, with a cloak room ISft ,x 10ft, a teachers’ room Hrt x and two verandahs 18ft x 13ft and 30ft- x lift. -All the rooms open on to a verandah by means of casement doors, and all the windows on the east side can be thrown open the centre sashes being hung on pivor*’ These arrangements, together with four . ceiling ventilators ,in each room agd additional window vents at the top Cf the waJJa and cpsement doors, make schema a semi open-air one, with provision 'for proper protection in the winter. The lighting is abundant, while a very pleasing interior effect is contributed by a sea green -tint on the .walls and a lighter shade for the ceiling. The dados are of figured rimn, varnished, while long hyloplate black--1 boards have been priced in suitable positions to the walls. Outside the appearance is particularly pleasing. the body colour being dark salmon with cream facings, while the windows are picked out in oak, the

doors in fawn, and the gable shingles m bungalow brown.

. Tne building is the finest of its kind m Canterbury, and is well suited to its sheltered position. Its estimated cost with furniture is £I9OO. After the ceremony afternoon tea was served in the old school by the lady members of the committee and statr During the afternoon the Sumner Brass Band provided a suitable of music, and all the school children were presented with a bag of refreshments.