EAST GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 54, 27 November 1926, Page 11

EAST GIRLS’ COLLEGE

MORE ACCOMMODATION WANTED PARENTS APPROACH MINISTER Provision of more accommodation at the Wellington East Girls’ College was the plea of a deputation from the Parents’ Association, which Sir. T. Forsyth, M.P., introduced to the Minister of Education (Elon. R. A. Wright) yesterday. Speakers pointed out that at the beginning of the year 192 applications for admission to the school were made, and as there was room for only 112 the remainder had to be sent to the Fipitea College. In the present building there was no room for the assembly of pupils, and on occasions, when the children were assembled, they had to crowd into the corridors and on to the stairs. The Minister asked how long the assembly room would be used each day. The president of the association (Mr., F. Holdsworth) said that prayers in the . morning occupied about ten minutes. Mr. Wright said that the assembly hall in one of the other secondary schools had cost £7500. It was a fairly expensive job for ten minutes’ use a day. Mr. Holdsworth mentioned that the hall would be used for other purposes, such as entertainments. In the past two years, he added, the association bad raised £3OO, which was being spent on improvements. The time had arrived, however when 'something should be done to add to the college buildings. It was stated by Mr. H W. Tolan that in winter the grounds were nothing more or less than a' clay bog. The entrance required metalling. The Minister thought the money raised by the association should have been applied to that purpose. Mr. Holdsworth: "We do not think it is a fair thing to ask the parents to provide road metal. We look upon that as the duty of the Government.” The association was willing to improve the grounds, but the Government should do the spade work. Mr. Tolan referred to leaking windows in the new school. In the course of his reply the Minister stated that he had had no official advice about lack of accommodation, but lie was aware of the state of the grounds He did not know that fiftv pupils had been turned away last year. If more accommodation were required f the Department would have to do what it could. He recognised that accommodation had to be found. He regretted to hear about the faulty, windows. It was most disquieting, as that was not the first case of its kind. The Minister said he would confer with his officers to ascertain to - what extent the representations could i-be met.