HEATING OF SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18414, 22 June 1925, Page 4

HEATING OF SCHOOLS.

REPLY TO PROTESTS. The Canterbury Education Board's protest against the smallness or tho subsidy allowed on tho cost of installing heating systems in schools was replied to hy tho Minister of Education, Sir James Parr, on Saturday.. ''Last year," said Sir .Tames, "the Government spent twice as' much money on- ChriStchurch schools than over before, and the Board might recognise this fact instead of making impossible demands. Tho schools in Canterbury are, in common with all the older schools throughout tho Dominion, heated I by fireplaces. For thirty or forty y&irs the present system .of fireplaces lias obtained aild tho Education Board's protest, therefore, against what one member calls 'a monstrous state of things' seems somewhat belated. Tlio climate of Canterbury is no more rigorous than that of Otago and Southland, ■where l the Boards do not ask for this change. It would no doubt be a fino tiling to convert- all tho fireplaces in New Zealand into hot water systems, but the Department cannot find tho money to do it. It 'would eat up most of my money. The <-ost of altering the system in a very school would be "close on £IOOO. "Where the Boards and committees are, however, keen to do something 'themselves, tho Department is willing io share the expense. than this tiie Department cannot do."