HIGH SCHOOL GROUNDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9845, 25 October 1924, Page 6

HIGH SCHOOL GROUNDS.

PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL SECTION. ’

BOARD OF GOVERNORS GETS A SHOOK.

DEPAIiTMEXT’S ATTITUDE “CHILDISH.”

The acquisition of the Finn’s property .adjoining the. High School grounds, for the purpose of enhugmg the playing area. was the subject oi the following letter received by the Uio-li School Board from Dr. Marsucu, Assistant-Director of Education. “I .am directed to inform you that your Board cannot mortgage the land for the balance of £3333, though it could buv on sale and purchase agreement, thus postponing payment. ' .“Apparently, however, Mr Finn require the money and it would appear that the best wa yout of the cliilieulty is to borrow from the bank, repaying the money when the local eoutril.nit.ons are received. ’

“In order to do this, the sanction of the Minister of Finance to the overdraft and the payment of any interest over oi r per cent, will l>e necessary, otherwise- the audit will Burch avge members. "It must be clearly uivc.erstood, however, that before such application can be considered, the Board atseii must make itself jointly «nd persons ally liable for payment and a condition of a limited period for repayment must be understood.” . Mr. Bright said that, while m \Vcllington, lie, discussed the question of the grant with Air. Caugldey, Director of Education, and also m reference to Finn’s sections. He had tola the Director that there was no possibility of the townspeople making contributions towards the acquisition' of the section. The Director had called in a, member of his staff, who suggested that the property should be mortgaged, and when tlio rate of interest of Gk per cent, was mentioned, the Director agreed it was quite reasonable and be thought there would be no difficulty in getting the; Munster of Finance’s sanction to the moreo’ntrc 1 . ° The chairman said that this was the first time the Board had heard of members having to make themselves jointly and personally liable. It was such -a ludicrous matter that it was hardlv worth discussing. Air! Bright said he had pointed oat to the Director that they had already made a call on the public for the sellout baths ami could not make any further appeal. The Director had agreed that this was reasonable. _ The eh airman said that the attitude of the Department in demanding that the members should be jointly personally responsible was childish, and lie thought a committee should be set up to reply to the Director. AH-: Bright said that the Board was committed to buying the section and somebody bad to pay for it. The chairman said that the Board bad risked £333 in obtaining the properly and they mere entitled- to the subsidy.

A commit tec consisting of Messrs. Alarm and Bright was appointed to draft the reply.