BRICK SCHOOLS TOO COSTLY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17180, 25 October 1923, Page 7

BRICK SCHOOLS TOO COSTLY.

ADVANTAGES OF WOOD. The opinion that brick school buildings were proving too costly to erect, and that better value would be obtained by erecting buildings of wood, was expressed by the Hon C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, in replying to a deputation from the Waimairi School Committee this morning. Mr Parr said that the Director of Education (Mr J. Caughley) and himself had been considering the matter of the cost of new schools, and had come to tho conclusion that they could save a great deal of money if they built the schools of good, sound timber, rather than in brick. Good wooden schools would last for forty years. If it was decided to build in wood in future it would mean that the Department would be able to put up 25 per cent, more schools than could be erected for the same money in brick. It was a question of getting greater value for the money available, especially as there was such a tremendous leeway to be made up. Another aspect was that the methods of teaching were changin, and there was a danger that many, of the brick buildings would be out of date within the next fifty years. Mr D. H. Shirlaw, the head master of the school, remarked that he did not believe- in brick schools.