HEATING OF SCHOOLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17568, 19 June 1925, Page 8

HEATING OF SCHOOLS.

SCANT STATE AID. EDUCATION BOARD PROTESTS. “I think it is a monstrous thing/’ said Mr E. 11. Andrews at this morning’s meeting of the Canterbury Education Board, referrinig to the fact that only one-third was contributed by the to the cost of installing heating systems in schools. “The very Government that would prosecute a factory owner if he permitted such •conditions in his factory,” he said, “permits the children to remain under these bad conditions. The thing is getting a bit too strong, and it is time we sent in a very, very strong protest against it.” New schools, he said, were provided with proper systems of heating. but the older schools were not in that favourable position. lie moved that the Board should make a very -strong protest, pointing out the reasons why the Department should treat the local boards and committees more liberally in these matters, and asking 'that the school committees should not •be required to find more than one-third of the cost. Mr J. B. Gow seconded the motion. The secretary said the board had protested some time ago in respect to this matter. Mr Andrews: We have to keen on protesting. Mr W. A. Banks said they should get reports as to the efficacy cf the different methods'of heating. He considered that the combustion stoves were still the best method. The hotwater systems resulted in one part of a. school being heated and the other not. Mr Andrews. Not if the systems are in order. Mr Gow cited instances where hotwater systems had been quite successful. The Sydenham system had proved a failure, but that was a steam system and not a hot-watc.r system. “When we see elaborate buildings put up like the Public Trust offices,” he said, “it makes one angry that the Government does not come forward and do more for the schools.” Mr W. IT. Winsor said it would be a good idea if the board sought information as to the success or otherwise of the systems in use. At a room in the Sydenham School they found the temperature to be 50 degrees, but the master considered it should be about GO. He was told that the temperature in the Fendalton fresh air room was 38 degrees. The real reason for much of the troubles in the old schools was that the engineers at the time those svstems were installed were experimenting. In South Canterbury they liad got on to right lines from the start. “Once we find a right system.” he said, "let us follow it. Never mind what the experts say about other systems. We know that some of the old ■. systems which were rammed down our throats as the right systems were not good. For goodness sake let us follow out one known right system and we cannot go wrong then.” ' The motion proposed by Mr Andrews was carried, and it was decided also to seek information on the lines suggested by Mr Banks.