CROWDED COLLEGES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 138, 8 December 1938, Page 7

CROWDED COLLEGES

HUTT VALLEY VISIT

PLANNING FOR FUTURE

COMMITTEE PROPOSED

Few districts in New Zealand are developing with more rapidity than the Hutt Valley and this has resulted in accommodation in secondary and primary schools being fully taxed. Yesterday a party consisting of the Hon. W. Nash (Minister of Finance), the Hon. P. Fraser (Minister of Education), Mr. H. E. Combs, M.P., the Director of Education (Mr. N. T. Lambourne), the chairman of the Wellington Education Board (Mr W. V. Dyer), and the architect to the Education Department (Mr. R. Savage) visited several schools in the Hutt Valley.

At the Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College the Ministerial party was met by the chairman of the Board of Managers (Mr. W. B. Nicholson), mem- j bers of the board, and Mr. A. McFadyen (principal). The needs of the school from the points of view of building nnd an adequate area for recreation were stressed. Among other questions raised was that of manual instruction for primary pupils. It was suggested that if a manual training school were established in the Hutt Valley it would relieve the technical school of some of its need for increased .accommodation. This raised the point of how best to cope with the future of the Hutt Valley from an educational point of view. Mr. Fraser suggested that a committee should be set up and draw up a plan, to be referred to him, for the future development of the Hutt Valley, especially from the point of view of manual training in the Valley for primary pupils. Other aspects of educational interest would be dealt with by this committee. It was pointed out that the Technical College pupils did not have unrestricted use of the Petone Recreation Ground, and in such a Jarge school it was necessary that there should be some other area for > recreation. Four areas that would be suitable for this purpose were visited. HUTT HIGH SCHOOL. The need for more accommodation was stressed by the principal (Mr. J. N. Millard) when a visit was paid to the Hutt Valley High School. Mr. Millard stressed that the present typing room was too small and a larger one was needed. He said that the school was fortunate in having special geography and history rooms, but one of these rooms had to be used as a classroom and next year it was more than likely that both would have to be utilised as classrooms. All that was available as a sick room for the girls was a couch at the end of a corridor. More room was also needed for staff purposes. Mr. Fraser expressed admiration of the visual training room and said it must be one of the 'best in New Zealand. A screen could be lowered from the ceiling with the utmost ease and the room darkened in a few minutes. The beautiful grounds of the school were inspected by the Ministerial party and pleasure was expressed at the trim state of the lawns and the well-kept flower beds. A healthy young kauri tree was an object of interest. Mr. Millard said that the Government had helped greatly in the improvements to the grounds, particularly in the concrete area. The new Hutt Central School, in Railway Avenue, was also inspected. This school, which will have eight main classrooms, each slightly larger than the usual 26 by 24 feet, will be ready for the opening of the new school year. A new feature is that small portions of the verandah are glassed in to serve as protection from the wind. The classrooms contain much more colour than is usual. Mr. Fraser said that this school must be one of the show buildings because of its modernity and delightful setting. The old buildings are to be used as an infant school. An inspection was made of the two classrooms in course. of construction at the Petone West School. Plans have been made for remodelling part of the old brick building at this school. Plans for a new Petone Central School were discussed on the site on the western side of the Petone Police Station. Since the last Ministerial visit this site has been filled in, the fence running down past the seniorsergeant's house demolished, and a pleasant lawn laid down parallel with j the fence dividing the area from the Recreation Ground. Plans for access were discussed. It was pointed out that in all probability a double-storeyed I school would have to be built because of the limitations of the site. In order to make room for the school and grounds all police buildings will have to be demolished and a new station provided. It has been suggested that the station should be built between the sergeant's house and the courthouse, but this is not final. Arrangements will have to be made about the police station before the school can be built. Another police station visited was j that at Lower Hutt, where nine of a ! staff are contained in a small buildj ing. Extensions are needed at this station. IMPROVING HUTT PARK. The chairman of the Hutt Park Committee (Mr. W. F. Hornig) and the secretary (Mr. H. Firth) pointed out to the Ministerial party improvements that are planned at Hutt Park. A new road has been suggested from Seaview Road along the southern bank of the Waiwhetu Stream. The Lower Hutt Borough Council is considering the extension of Riverside Drive along the eastern bank of the stream to join up with the extension planned by the Hutt Park Committee. One effect of the extension will be 1" c elimination of the small bridge that carries the city's water mains. The proposed work will allow the present Park Road and the fence that divides it from the park to be eliminated and the stream will be the park boundary. The cost will be about £4000. The Wellington Trotting Club is taking a particular interest in the scheme and is prepared to give financial assistance. The Hutt Park Committee is requesting the assistance of the Public Works Department in the construction of the road, as later it will be the main route to the Wainui Tunnel.