SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17039, 12 May 1923, Page 2

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

A HARASSED MINISTER. “ I want, if possible, to make a start on a necessary work in each of the four big centres this year. I want to go ahead with the schools which most urgently need replacement.” said the Minister of Education (Mr C. J. Parr), in reply to a deputation that waited on him this morning to press the claims of the West Christchurch School. Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., said that the West Christchurch School was one of the most important schools in Canterbury. It had one of the best records in the Dominion, and should be given better attention in the matter of buildings. Mr J. H. Jones, chairman of the West Christchurch School Committee, said that he had understood from the remarks of the Minister two years ago that the school would be the first to be rebuilt in Christchurch.

Mr Parr said that he had lodged up the reference to the matter and had found that, while he did not say that West Christchurch School would be the first, it would be among the first. He had to regard the Education Board’s position in the matter. “ We waited patiently a long time, but we don’t want to press our claims so as to embarrass the Education Board,” said Mr Jones. Now, however, he thought the time had arrived for something to be done. At present large pieces of plaster were falling from the ceilings, and some of the boards had practically blown away in dust.

Mr Howard : We understand that tho general feeling of th© board was not favourable to the rebuilding of the school ?

Mr G. W. Armitage, chairman of the Canterbury Education Board, asked what reason Mr Howard had for saying that.

Mr Howard: Well, I don’t feel inclined to put forward a reason. I was merely inquiring if that was the case. 1 will take your word for it if you say that it was not the case.

The Minister replied that the general question of the erection of old schools was a big one. The board had not changed its mind about the urgent need for rebuilding the school. But the board had reminded him thirt there were other schools needing attention — Richmond and Opawa, for instance* “1 cannot do the whole lot in onj year,” Mr Parr said, “ but I would like to make a start with your school this year. The Education Board suggested six months ago that a start should be made with five or six rooms on a new site away from the present buildings. That would be about less than half of the total space that ultimately must be built. The cost would be about £IO,OOO or £12.000. I looked into the matter of building the whole block, and I may tell you that it will cost anything from £25,000 to £30,000. L despair of finding that amount for

propose to place before Cabinet as the most urgent work in Christchurch the replacement of the old buildings bv at least erecting six or seven classrooms with space to house 300 to 350 right away. Next year we should finish the school.”