SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 295, 7 September 1920, Page 4

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

AN ARCHITECT APPOINTED.

The re-asons for the appointment last week of an architect to the stuff of tho Education Department, and the duties i he would be called upon to perform, were explained yesterday by the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr). Tho Minister said that it was a very important appointment, which, in his opinion, should have been made long ngo. The. Department spent annually hundreds of thousands of pounds in building now schools. While, the present officials were experts on the lighting and ventilation <A the buildings and their class requirements, the Department hart been without skilled guidance as to the architecture of schools and the. methods of construction. Further, there were a number of old schools in the Dominion which, though old-fashioned, were still sound. It was proposed to remodel these nnd made them more hygienic and suitable for modern classes. This was a heavy task, which, owing to the limitations of finance and the, inpli cost or ■labour and materials, must bo spread over a series of years. Upon all these important matters the Department would now have export guidance. _ Hitherto many delays had occurred owing to the education hoards sending in for approval plans that were unsuitable. It was honed now that the architect, who was a man of special experience, would be able to furnish authoritative advice to the boards and their architects.