OVERCROWDED HIGH SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 309, 24 September 1918, Page 7

OVERCROWDED HIGH SCHOOLS

CASE OF WELLINGTON COLLEGES

NEED FOR MORE MONEY

Yesterday a deputation from the Board of Governors of the Wellington College and Girls' High School Hoard waited upon the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education) regarding tho question of increased accommodation at the colleges. There were present Messrs. W. J'\ Ward (chairman) and Martin Chapman, K.C.. and Professor T. 11. Easterficld. Mr. Ward pointed out that during tho past two or three years a considerable number of pupils entitled to free places bad to be refused admission owing to want of accommodation. At tho Itoy.V College there was an attendance of 560. while according to the regulations only il'i should be admitted, and the assembly rooms and armoury had consequently to be used as cla'ss rooms. The position at the Girls' High School was equally as bad, there being 551 in attendance whilst only 47.5 should bo admitted. Evory available room was utilised, and in addition a residence in the locality was also being used for class rooms. There were'only 1-J acres of land at the girls' school; there was thus no available room for additional buildings; in fact, there was insufficient space for recreation purposes. During the coming year they exacted a large increase in Hie number of. pupils, and there would be no room for them. Tho question of providing increased accommodation to nicefc the position' was therefore their immediate concern. If the board were forced to adopt tho same practice as in previous years in regard to the admission of new pupils because of lack of class rooms, it would again result in a number of pupils with proficiency certificates being excluded. Some scholars'came, from outside the city, as their parents were anxious that they should attend the local colleges, where the equipment and staffing were considered to be better than could bo expected in smaller high schools. Professor Easterfiekl and Mr. Chapman supported the chairman's remarks, and stressed the need for action by tho Government, to meet the difficulty with which the board would be faced. • Mr. Hanan, in replying, said that temporary arrangements had been made to cater for the girls during the present year, but hohad to admit that the situation generally was becoming more serious. He had discussed the question of the overcrowding of tho colleges with the Director of Education in connection with applications from other parts of the Dominion whore, unfortunately, a similar condition of affairs existed in respect to inadequate accommodation to meet the growing influx of pupils to secondary schools. The position in Wellington was not, theretore, exceptional. He had pointed out on previous occasions that unless a largely increased sum was granted for buildings and for educational purposes it would bo impossible for him to meet the. demands now being made throughout the Dominion. Apart from moneys asked for in connection with primary and technical school buildings, a sum of approximately £108,000 would he required if the whole of the applications for additions to existing secondary schools and the establishment of new high schools ivero approved. The Department, said Mr. Hanan, came in for criticism for cutting down or refusing certain applfca' tions. but its actions had to be governed in some cases by tho limited amount voted by Parliament for educational purposes. He intended to submit the representations they had made to him, together with similar applications, to Government for consideration when the building "vote estimates were being considered. If the 'Government saw its way to provide tho necessary funds required he was disposed to think that instead of making additions to the present Girls' College it would bo better to erect another college in the southern part of the city, provided a suitable sito could be secured, if not free of cost at a reasonable sum. It would bo impossible, even if a vote were approved, to provide the accommodation in time for the anticipated influx next year; therefore, if relief was to be afforded in the meantime it seemed to him that a suitable building should be rented. Concluding, the Minister remarked that if there was to bo further educational development in the Dominion a substantial increase in tho present vote would he needed. That, however, was a matter for Cabinet to determine. Mr. Chapman* said that by reason of the enormous .influx of people.into Wellington tho position was being accentuated. Then again there was the natural increase for which provision should be made. He l thought that some scheme should be introduced whereby sufficient moneys could ho set aside to do this. ' The Minister replied that be was insistently cudeavouring to obtaiu all the money he needed in the field of educational development, but it was plain to him, having regard to tho heavy'demands that were being made on the Government for other objects, that a loan would require to be provided for education or funds raised by imposing additional taxation.