MR. PARRY WANTS NEW SCHOOL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 83, 29 June 1927, Page 15

MR. PARRY WANTS NEW SCHOOL

SAYS PLAYGROUND DIRTY AND DANGEROUS; NEW BUILDING NEEDED

(From Our Resident Reporter.) WELLINGTON. Tuesday. E position of tho Napier Street School in Auckland wa:s raised in the House to-day by Mr. W. Parry (Auckland Central).

He asked the Minister for Education whether in view of the disgracefully dirty and dangerous condition of the playground of Napier Street School tho Minister will take immediate stepi? to have carried into effect the projected work in connection with this school, by (1) The demolition of the old school at present on the site; (2) the addition to the new school of nhe other rooms for which the plans provide; (3) the levelling and surfacing of tho whole area, which has been secured for the purpose.

The Minister for Education in reply said the question of demolition lay in the hands of the Auckland Education Board in whose hands the property was vested, along with other schools in the district. He observed that the. institution had recently been let for charitable functions. The conditions of the school were such that a new school was no-t an immediate necessity. In 1904 the attendance was 504, and for the March quarter of this year the figure had dropped to 414. Mr. Parry: Why not close the Nelson Street School?

Mr. Wright: Well, the population in Auckland as elsewhere has been transferring to the suburbs, and it will probably be necessary to close the Nelson Street School, but not till accommodation Is ready. In respect to the area, the Mir latter said this was a matter for the Education Board.

Mr. Parry: Did you not prom iso' a grant of £5.000 for this work? The Minister (hastily): No, I &id not. I promised no such sum.