HEATING THE SCHOOL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 92, 25 April 1913, Page 8

HEATING THE SCHOOL.

DISCUSSED BY THE BOARD. At a meeting of the Educhtion Board in New Plymouth yesterday, Mr P. Skoglund, chairman of the Stratford School Committee, waited on the Board in connection with the heating of the school. Tiie Chairman of the Board had,he said, visited the school, and must have come away convinced that something would have to be done at once. Tne heating arrangements at present were no good ;perhaps the committee did not understand the heaters, but at any rate they were getting no use out of them, and when the cold weather came on the want of warmth might have serious results on the children’s health. Hot water pipes had, he understood, been installed in some schools, and had done admirably. Another point in favour of the hot water pipes was the economy in fuel, and the water was available

for other purposes. He, however, wished to urge upon the Board the absolute necessity of moving in the matter at once, as the welfare of the children was at stake.

In answer to a question by a member, Mr Skoglund said that one reason why the present stoves were unsatisfactory was because they were too near the walls, and the heat went up a big brick chimney. “You could,” he added, “sit on one of them without discomfort after it had been alight two hours.” The Chairman said that at first the Beard had considered putting in open fire places, but after deciding on the installation of stoves they had left it to the architect to choose the make of the stoves.

Mr Adlam stated that on one occasion when he visited the school, the stoves were not even hot after they had been alight for an hour and a half.

Mr Skoglund, in response to a query by Mr Kennedy, stated that if the Board could not afford to do the whole of the work the school committee would be prepared to help by paying the interest on the money it would require. They could not get the Board to do the work.

The Chairman, in his report as a result of a letter from Mr Masters, stated he had visited the school with Mr Masters on the 14th inst., with a view of ascertaining the truth of the allegations that the infant .school was insufficiently heated. As it seemed to him impossible to heat the large room from the open lire place he instructed the overseer to instal a Unique stove in addition. The general heating of the main school seemed to be far from satisfactory. He recommended that a report should be obtained as to the best method arid 'cost of heating the school with th'tU'hot water system.

Mr Masters' said that it would cause, unnecessary delay in getting an expert report. The greater part of the winter would he over. They were all agreed that the hot water system was a most satisfactory one, and the work should be put in hand right awry. > j discussion*,' however, it was agreed to obtain ‘an expert report. The oversee!' in his report stated that as instructed he had placed a “t'nique” Radiator Stove in the Stratford Infant School. In the mater of hot water installation in the new Uriels part of the Stratford school, diving to the buildings covering such a large area, and the extra work now tfib 1 school is finished, the cost would he £l90 r to £2OO. By leaving out the library, head masters’s and teachers’ rooms, the cost would be about £7O. There was no doubt about the success of the system who n once installed, the first cost being practically the only cost.—News.