OVER A CORRIDOR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16036, 29 January 1920, Page 5

OVER A CORRIDOR.

BOARD AND DEPARTMENT IN

DISPUTE. WIDTH OF A PASSAGE. Another passage of arms has occurred between the Education Department and the Education Board over the width of a corridor in the Queen’s Park School. The Department says it should be 10 feet wide, whereas the Board wants it 15 feet.

In a long letter to the Board, rend at last night’s meeting, Dr. Anderson. Director of Education, dealt fully with the dispute. He said that the Department took exception to the provision for a corridor fifteen feet wide, and a grant was made on the condition that the corridor should he reduced to ten feet. No objection to the condition imposed was made by the Board until July 30th, when the request was made that this condition should be withdrawn. The _Board did not inform the Department that a week previously it had actually let a contract for the erection of the school, containing a 15ft corridor, thus making a distinct breach of the conditions on which the grant was made. On August 29th, ilia Department informed the Board that the conditions should be observed, being still without knowledge that the contract with the 15ft corridor had been let for nearly three weeks. “T!ie course of action followed by the Board was regarded as most could not but be prejudicial to the future transaction of business on a satisfactory basis,” continued Dr. Anderson. “There has been a distinct breach of good faith in departing from the conditions and in presenting for discussion with the Department a matter which the Board had irrevocably settled without knowledge of the Department. The seriousness of the position was not to he measured by the amount of money involved, but by the difficulty which the Department will have in future in accepting representations made by the Board or in relying on its adherence to arrangements definitely made. ”

The Director intimated that the Department would send a qualified officer to estimate the amount of increased cost and this amount, with the officer’s expenses, would be deducted from the Department’s last payment. The chairman said that the Department estimated the cost of the extra width of the corridor at about £2OO, whereas the Board's architect said it would cost about £4O. The actual cost had been £33.. The widening of the corridor did away with two walls. All this had been explained to one of the Department’s officers. “We have too many expensive officers dancing around us trying to teach us our work,” added the chairman.

Mr W. Bruce said it was time practical men were put at the head of the Education Department, to control its business affairs. He proceeded to point out what he considered excessive delays in dealing with matters and remarked that it appeared to him as if the officers were gadding about so much that they could get nothing done. He considered the Board should take it to Parliament. , Mr Pirani said he nevlr felt so disgusted with the Department than at the present time. He said that the Department knew about the corridor in June last. The Board had never asked the Department}, to pay the extra cost. Another member remarked that if recommendations were made in favour of the Board they were ignored, if to the contrary they were granted. The administration was becoming unbearable.

Mr A. Fraser said that at Poxton the Department had refused to sanction a hall, but had granted corridors which took up 30 per"cent, more floor space. There were corridors in the school from 12 to 20 feet wide.

Mr Bruce: Yet they won’t give more than 10ft at Wanganui. The chairman was authorised to place the matter before the Minister for Education.