PUBLIC MONEY WASTED ?

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1062, 28 August 1930, Page 1

PUBLIC MONEY WASTED ?

Education Department’s Methods TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SITE Loss of £20,000, Says Report AN accumulated extra cost of £20,655 as the direct outcome of a departmental decision regarding the site of a single school is cited by the Auckland Grammar School Board as a strong argument against the Government’s proposed policy of centralisation in education control.”

A memorandum released for publication by a member of the board recalls the purchase of the site of the present Takapuna Grammar School. “Is this,” it asks, “an example of how the Director proposes to save £60,000 by abolishing local control and centralising everything in the department in Wellington?”

-In 192* the Auckland Grammar School Board proposed to build a Grammar School to serve the whole oi the North Shore,” states the memorandum. It continues as follows: • The board chose a central site midday between Devouport and Northcote. in the Borough of Takapuna. •‘This was a gentle slope of volcanic «oil which could be easily and cheaply levelled for playing fields. The department forced the board to purchase the present site of the Takapuna Grammar School instead, this site being a steep slope and the soil a heavy, yellow clay ou top of a white, treacherous pug resembling putty and quite impermeable by water. SITE NOW A PARK

‘ The site chosen by the board has now been completely levelled by the Borough Council and is known as Taharoto Park. It was offered to the hoard for £2,000 in 1924. The Town Clerk of Takapuna informs the board that the cost of levelling has not exceeded £I,OOO. “Compare this with the present site forced on the board by the department, and which today has only been partially levelled and on which thousands of pounds must yet be spent before it will be comparable with Taharoto Park.** NORTHCOTE LEFT OUT It wa3 pointed out that the building of the school on the present site was satisfactory to Devouport and Takatiuna. but not to the district as a whole. In making its original selection, the board wished to cater for the whole of the North Shore, and the site that is now Taharoto Park was lu a central position, within reasonable distance of not only Devonport but Northcote. The cost of enlarging the present school in order to cater for Northcote scholars would have been only £4,000. Today, however, Northcote is asking for a secondary school of Its own. COSTS IN DETAIL The extra costs entailed as a result of the department's decision are Set out as follow: TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL SITE Cost (school site), £4,452; improvements ta portion only, and not including buildings), £3,173 —£7,655. TAHAROTO PARK Cost, £2,000; improvements, £I,OOO "-£3,000. Extra cost through department's interference, £4,655. To the above extra cost of £4,655 Must be added the cost of a new secondary school, and school site in

Northcoae, say £20,000. Total, £ 24,655. Less the cost ot four additional classrooms at Takapuna, say £4,000. Extra cost through department overruling the board, £20,655. "Northcote residents have recently approached the department with a request for a secondary school, and this would not have been necessary had the board’s advice been followed, as the wants of Northcote cquld have been met by the addition of four extra classrooms to the Takapuna Grammar School. These have, been allowed for in the above table.”