"CONTINUOUS DELAYS"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 62, 7 December 1920, Page 7

"CONTINUOUS DELAYS"

SCHOOL SITES WANTED ALLEGED NEGLECT OF WELLINGTON A comprehensive report on new sites for various Wellington schoo2s was submitted at last night's inetieng of the Central .Progress League by the .secretary, Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P. Kefori'ing to Te Aro School, he'stated that together with the secretary of the Education Boaid and Mr. W.' Stunrt Wilson he visited the Terrace Gaol site on November 30. Two houses had been romoved and the ground was now being levelled- by the Prison Department. The plans were prepared and tenders called for the building of an infant school. The executive attended a deputation to the Minister in reference to the plans of this school, to which the School Committee and teachers took exception on account of it not being in keeping with modern requirements. The .league desired to' compliment the school teachers and committees for the very keen and intelligent interest taken in this work and their anxiety to havo modern schools and equipment that they might better equip the children for their life duties. It was to be regretted that the officials of the. Education Department were not providing the schools now being built with an assembly hall and other improvements, -which the Education Board, school committees, and teachers alikei all asked for. Further efforts would have to be made to shift the gaol, so that the other portions of the school and grounds could be proceeded with at any early date. ' As to Clvde' Quay School, the one site had been secured and plans prepared for a' new school, which was to be proceeded with immediately. Eegarding Newtown School, an acre ol land had been secured and a.similar area adjoining was being negotiated for; This site was joining the Town Belt at Hanson Street. This was as far as the matter of providing new schools at Newtown had proceeded. , , „ , „ , Beferring to' Mount Cook, the report stated that the Education Board forwarded proposals to the Minister for acquiring a new site in this locality, but the Department had evidently not yet come to any decision, and tho months kept passing without anything being done to remedy the extremely unsatisfactory conditions under which tho children were being educated in this area. , The executive- was of opinion that tho continuous delays in coming to any finality in reference to those urgent matters of school sites and buildings, were not in the interests of the community and were somewhat a reflection on the business capacity of tho Department concerned. . . ~ Mr. Stuart Wilson emphasised the necessity, for the Education Department reviewing its decision to cut out the assembly" hall in plans for now schools. Tie suggested that tho league tnko the matter up with the Department. If tho Department lind not sufficient money to provide the schools with these assembly halls, then let it build fewer schools, bnt good schools. The Tcport was adopted.