NEW PLYMOUTH SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 180, 29 January 1914, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH SCHOOLS.

HKALTII INSPECTOR'S RKPOUT. .\ short time ago, the Health Inspestor to the Taranaki Hospital Hoard (Mr A. H. Kendall) submitted to that Hoard a report on the Central, t'ourlenay Street, and West End schools, all of which lie charaetemed a-> far from sanitary, and made special reference to the t'ourlenay Street School. This report was duly sent on to tha Taranaki Kducat:on Hoard, which decided that it was a matter for the Kit ileal ion Department. At a later meeting of the Hospital lionrd, surprise was expressed at what, members considered the summary manner iii which the F.dncation Board had disposed of the Health Inspector's report, and the chairman of the Hospital llijnrd stated that if a school was not sanitary the Hospital Hoard would refuse to allow it to be re-opened after the Christmas, holidays. This caused a heated discussion at the Kducation Hoard's next meeting. At the meeting of the l-'diication Hoard yesterday," the following letter was received from the Inspector-General of Schools, in reply to the report by Mr Kendall, which had been sent on to him:

"hi reply to your memorandum '>i Xovcmber 27, concerning a report );y the Xcw IM.vmoiil.il sanitary inspector on the comlitioii of the Courtenny -Street and Central school- in New Plymouth, I have lo miy that the points rawed in (lie report appear to be mainly matters within the I'oard's prnvinee to deal with, either independent!'- or in conjunction with the .School Committee. I may state, however. I hat. in (he opinion of the Department, some of the points referred to (viz., the aeeoniinodation for teachers, the distribution in clas»cs, and the (|iiestionable opinion as to how doors of class-rooms should open) are scarcely such as should concern ■<. sanitary inspector, and unless the conditions aro really such as to menace public health, and promote the spread of an infection* disease, it must be a matter of surprise that the Hospital Hoard should assume to itself any ricjit to act as it has done in thveatenins to oppose the rc-openiny of the school."

Hi is letter was .erected with general satisfaction by the members of the Board, and was formally received.-