GIRLS’ COLLEGE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12615, 27 November 1926, Page 6

GIRLS’ COLLEGE

MORE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST TO MINISTER. The Minister for Education (Hon. R. A. .Wright) was asked by a deputation yesterday to provide for increased accommodation at the Wellington East Girls’ College. Ho promised to consider the representations. Mr T. Forsyth, M.P., who introduced the deputation, said that at the beginning of this year 192 applications were made for admission to the school, and there was room for only 142. the remaining fifty being sent to Pipitea College. He pointed out that next year the Education Board would require for other puiposes two rooms in a brick building at Brook street, which were now used by pupils at the Pipitea College. Next year there would be an even greater number of applicants for positions at the schools. Personally he did not see how additions to the Wellington East College could be deferred much longer. PARENTS’ EFFORTS The president of the Parents’ Association (Mr F. - Holdsworth) pointed out that there was no room in the present building for the assembly of the pupils, and on occasions when they were assembled they were obliged to crowd into the corridors and on to the stairs. Mr Wright observed that the assembly hall in one of the other secondary schools had. cost £7oOO j it was_ a pretty expensive job, for ten minutes’ use per day. Mr. H. W. Tolan said that in winter the grounds were nothing more or less than a clay bog. The intranet, required metalliug, as it was in a very bad state. Mr Wright contended that the money raised by the association should have been applied to that purpose. “NOT A FAIR THING’’ “W’e don’t think it is a fair thing,” said Mr Holdsworth, “to ask the parents to provide road metal. We look upon that as the duty of the Government.” Mr Wright said that other committees used their moneys largely for improvements of the same kind. Mr Holdsworth said the association was willing improve the grounds, but he submitted that the Government should do the spado work. The Minister remarked that considering the urgency of the matter he thought the association might have used its own moneys. Mr Tolan said the association was an informal body doing voluntary work, and needed 'a little more sympathy and encouragement from the Government. “DISQUIETING” Mr Wright said he had had no official advice about lack of accommodation, but personally he was aware of the state of the grounds. He did not know that fifty pupils had been turned away last year. If more accommodation was needed the department would have to do what it could. He recognised that accommodation must be found. He regretted to hear about the faulty windows. It was most disquieting, as that was not the first case of tho kind. He would confer with the officers of the department to see to what extent the representations could be met.