KEITH STREET SCHOOL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 168, 18 July 1945, Page 3

KEITH STREET SCHOOL

DEPUTATION TO INTERVIEW PRIME MINISTER TWO EDUCATION BOARD ME.MLERS DECLINE TO PARTICIPATE. By eight votes to two yesterday, at its monthly meeting, the Wanganui Education Board rejected a notice of| motion in the name of Mr. J. C. Batt:i “That all previous resolutions of the Board relating to the location of the now building for the Keith Street School si ould be rescinded.” Because they were in opposition to the views of other members of the board, regarding the Keith Street School site, both Mr. Batt and Mr. W. IG. Price (Wanganui) resigned from the deputation which is Io approach the Prime Minister in Wellington at an early date. They intimated that they might be members of a counterdeputation which would urge that the present site be retained for the new tuildtng. The personnel of the deputation which vil] now proceed to Wellington to see Mr. Fraser will comprise Messrs E. F. Hemingway (chairman), W. H. Brown. W. B. Tonnent (board members) and Mr. G. N. Boulton (secretary). ESTIMATED TIMETABLE. The board had before it at the meeting a report of a timetable of the estimated time of completion of the interlocked building programme for thej Wanganui Girls’ College and the Keith Street and Intermediate Schools. This was based on the Minister’s suggestion that the works would not proceed simultaneously. The only works which could proceed simultaneously were the Girls’ College and Hostel buildings, or the Hostel and the Intermediate buildings if the Intermediate School occupied the school portion of tne old College while the boarders were still in occupation of the Hostel. If two works did proceed simultaneously, the programme could be shortened by approximately nine months. The timetable was:—

New Girls’ College.—lf tender accepted by, say, October 31, 1945, building should be completed by December 31, 1946. New Hostel.—lf tender accepted by, say, October 31, 1946, building should be completed by December 31, 1947. New Intermediate School.—Move to old College' building, say, October 1, 1947. Demolition of present building and site prepared by December 31,i 1947. New school erected by Septem-: ber 30, 1948. New Keith Street School.—Demolition of old College and Hostel by. say, February 28, 1949. New school erected by August 31, 1949. The reason why the new Intermediate School was shown before the new Keith Street School was that the new Intermediate would require to stand on the site of the present building and while the present building was being demolished it would be necessary to use the present Girls’ College building as temporary accommodation for the Intermediate pupils. The present Keith Street building would not be large enough to provide this temporary accommodation. DEPENDENT ON CABINET. The above programme was, of course entirely dependent on the appreciation by the Government of Wanganui’s pressing building needs which have accumulated because of the delay in approving a graflt for the new Girls’ College. If the Prime Minister would give the board’s deputation an assurance of approval for the programme, much organisation and preliminary work could be put in hand immediately and the works could, subject to unforeseen delays, proceed as stated.

Speaking to his motion, Mr. Batt said the main reason why the majority of the board was against building on the present site was the smallness of the playing area. After all, said Mr. Batt, children spent more time in school than outside. Compared with some Wellington schools, Keith Street had an adequate playing area. Mr. Batt also pointed out there was no other site available for immediate building. Seconding Mr. Batt’s motion, Mr. Price said it would be far better to have a new school built on the present site while the grant was available. If further land was required on the present site it could be purchased at a later date. REPLY TO QUESTION. In reply to a question, the architect said Lt would be necessary to purchase three sections immediately it a twostory school had to be built on the present site. “I think it would have been more satisfactory if Mr. Batt had not tabled his motion,” said Mr. W. H. Brown (Palmerston North). “If Mr. Batt's motion is carried it wiill put matters back where they were before.” The chairman: As a member of the deputation to the Prime Minister, Mr. would you be prepared to support us in requesting the Prime Minicter to give the necessary finance to proceed with the school building programme so urgently needed in Wanganui? Mr. Batt: “If it involved the shifting of the Keith Street School to another site I will oppose the views of other members of the deputation. I am committed to seeing the school built on the present site.” The chairman: I have no other alternative but to give notice of motion that, the resolution dealing with the personnel to approach the Prime Minister be rescinded. Mr. Batt: What does that mean? RESIGNATIONS FROM DEPUTATION. The chairman: All members on the deputation are going on the distinct understanding that they ask the Prime Minister to proceed with the work of carrying out the necessary school buildings in Wanganui. The deputation would also point out that the majority of the board members favour the Keith Street School being built on the Girls’ College site. Mr. Batt said he was prepared to resign from the deputation. Mr. Price also intimated that he would resign, as he held the views of Mr. Batt. The resignations from the deputation were accepted on a motion moved at the meeting. CITY COUNCIL’S VIEW SUPPORT FOR KEITH STREET SCHOOL COMMITTEE Support far the Keith Street School Committee in its contention that the school should be built on the e.scnt site was given by Ihe Wan-

ganui City Council at its meeting last night. The following resolution, moved by the mayor, Hon. W. J. Rogers, seconded by Cr. J. C. Batt, was carried on the voices: “While the building of a new school on the existing site is primarily one of main concern between the Keith Street School Committee, the Wanganui Education Board and the Minister of Education, this council respectfully urges the Education Board and the Minister 1o accede to the request of the committee for the proposed new school to be erected on the present site, in accordance with the wishes of the committee and the parents of chiidden attending the present school: Further, that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the school committee. the Education Board, and the Minister.” An amendment moved by Cr. E. W. Merewether, that the council lake no action in a matter such as this, and another moved by Cr. W. S. N. Rennie, that the council defer any action till after the deputation from the Education Board had gone to Wellington, both lapsed for want of seconders. The subject was introduced when a letter was received f om (he Keith Street School Committee asking for the council’s support.