BOARD PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 222, 18 September 1940, Page 3

BOARD PROTEST.

"BANDIED ABOUT." SCHOOL HOSPITALS. TRAINING COLLEGE POSITION. Strong comment regarding the action of the military and health authorities in taking over school buildings for use as hospitals was made at the meeting of the Auckland Education Board this morning. It was decided to protest against the proposed taking over of the Auckland Teachers- Training College and the Hamilton West primary school for use as hospitals. Protest was also expressed at the inspection of the Training College bv l>r. K. A. .Shore, deputy -Director-* lenera'l <> Health, and Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health, yesterday in this connection without lirst consulting the chairman or secretary of the hoard. Visit to College. The secretary. Mr. 1). W. Dunlop, reported the receipt of a letter from the acting-principal of the college, Mr. B. M Kihhlewhite, stating that Drs. Shore and Hughes visited the college yesterday and asked to be allowed to inspect the building. When the reason for the visit was asked it was stated that there was a distinct possibility of the building being taken over for hospital purposes. The doctors made a thorough examination of tiie building.

"I think it is the duty of the chairman to make a definite forceful statement on the position, said Mr. F. A. Snell ( Hamilton). "The schools are being bandied about from pillar to post simply because the military and health people have not done their job." Mr. Knell said that it was to he expected that there would lx> epidemics arising from the transfer of so many men from home to camp life. There should have been hospitals provided in connection with each camp sufficient to deal with such emergencies. Unless the board made a definite protest it seemed that the Training College would be taken over for an indefinite ]>eriod. What was the jnxsition of the trainees and staff? asked Mr. R. A. Row. Where would they go and .what about the amount of money, voluntary contributions by the trainees, that had beer, spent on various amenities at tha college ? Mr. W. I. Bowyer: What about our future teachers? "Teach Them a Lesson." "I knew nothing about this visit until I read about it in the paper,'' said the chairman, Mr. W. J. Campbell. "From the point of view of ordinary courtesy the least they could have done, was to notify this board. It is, in a way, a pity the acting-principal allowed them •to go over the building. That would have taught them a lesson. The Hospital Board has been muddling about this question for years now." The principle of taking a few schools here and there was wrong, he said. The matter should have been prepared for years ago. The Education Board had shown foresight in the equipment of the training college and it was now the finest training college in New Zealand. "Now, because we used a little judgment and foresight, they want to take it from us," he said. "I think we should protest strongly." The question of the education of the children was of great importance, pointed out Mr. .Snell. Mr. Campbell said that they all agreed that some provision would have to he made for the hospital accommodation of any returned sick and wounded men. The question concerned the taking over of the schools. The Hon. A. Burns: What are thev taking these buildings for? Is it for military purposes ? As Permanent Hospital. "From what I can see Mr. Moody wants it for a permanent hospital," said Mr. Campbell. He realised that they had no power to stop the military authorities from taking over the buildings. There were 600 students at the college, and the question was what was the board going to do with them if 'they were pushed out of their present quarters. The new school which had previously been used when the training college was taken as a hospital was now occupied. It would be of less importance if the authorities took over the Town Hall for the purpose and stopped all civic administration, said Mr. Bowyer. The education of children was of great importance. Hospital accommodation should he provided in other ways than by the taking of the schools. "They seem to have plenty of money to spend in other ways," he said. The question of Hamilton West school was referred to by Mr. Snell, who pointed out the difficulties that would be experienced there if the school was taken.