RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 156, 27 March 1920, Page 7

RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL

DIFFICULTIES OF CONTRACTORS. / 1 By Association. . ' CKristchurch, March 26. A deputation from the Kangioi'a High •cliool Boa id of Governors waited on-Sir •Yaiicis Roll '/o-dav and informed hiui lint owing to (ho increasing cost of ement'aiul other building materials, the ontractbrs for the new high school at iangiora wej'eiiot prepared ;to proceed rith tire contract unless the Governnent guaranteed to cover any hirtlier ise-in- the.cost, of material required!. Sir Francis Bell paid he did not see he use of a contract if additional sinus vere to'bo paid to cover the increased ost of labour and material. The chairman snid that the contract ronld have been all right and thfe work ilmost , completed ' if/ cement had been ivailahle.-' . ~ Sir Francis Bell said he thought it vonltl lie a dangerous precedent to grant lie request. All contractors must talte ■•sirs asrainst increased prices and bbiiir: However, he could not give any lelinite announcement. He would lay lie deputation's 'representation, before lie. Hon. C. .T. Parr, Minister of Edueaion. He (Sir Francis Bell') recognised he necessity of the school being, built. >ut the obstacle was the sattnur ,w> of i' dangerous precedent, which, if estabished, woiild mean, that all contracts ,vere useless scraps of paper. The headmaster of the school.sard-lie •wlised the necessity for a new buildin" and lie would now-iirse on -, the Pollrd of. Governors that any further increase in wages and materials should b€ M'fr'inteed bv the Board of Governors. ''The "Minister: That: is just getting in i roundabout way to the same trouble, Tor, it will be the same whether the increased charges are guaranteed by .tlu Government, or by the baard. The. Gov [•rnment is prepared to, consider an adjustment in cover (lie rise in the cost ol material, but I an\ not prepared to saj that it would do so with regard ,t< wages. .