THE TERRACE SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 152, 23 March 1921, Page 4

THE TERRACE SCHOOL

NEED FOR A PLAYGROUND MINISTER EXPLAINS THE POSITION Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington North) yes. terday asked the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) whether he would give instructions as„ soon as possible for the demolition of * building on a section of land that was purchased to provide a playing ground for the children attending the Terrace School. Mr. Parr said that the school ought never to hav-e been built where it was, but he supposed it had been there for some twenty years now. Mr. Luke: More. The children, Mr. Parr continued, had managed to get along until last year, when an application was made for an increase in the playing space. Eventually, Cabinet had made a grant of £5OOO to £6OOO to enable the Department to buy the property adjoining the school. Now, the principal asset was the building on the property, which was worth £4OOO. Mr. Luke: It is no asset to the children. Mr. Parr replied that the matter had not been finally decided, but the Department would not scrap a fine, sound building worth at least £4OOO merely to provide half an acre of playing space. At this time, when buildings in Wellington were not to be had for love or monej, was it the duty of the Department to pull this one down? lie recognised that the member was voicing the sentiments of the school committee in asking the Department to scrap a fine building that might be used as a hostel in years to come. He was not .prepared to recommend such # waste of public money as would occur if the building were to be pulled down at present.