THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1915, Page 8

THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

LESS MONEY FOE BUILDINGS, "WORSE POSITION THAN EVER." THE TRIALS OF THE GIRLS. The road towards progress taken by the New Plymouth High School Board has been found to offer many difficulties, all of which appear to have been provided by the Government. The board has been faced for some time with the urgent necessity of providing more accommodation at both schools, and after negotiations with the Government, extending over many months, there has recently been reason to assume that the way was clear for the expansion and development of the schools, but a letter from the Director of Education, which was read at last night's meeting of the board, shows that the board is not yet "out of the wood."

Dr. W. J. Anderson, Director of Education, wrote returning plans of (a) the Girls' High School; (b) boarding additions to the Boys' High School; and (c) boarding establishment of the Girls' High School. Dr. Anderson regretted that, owing to the stringency of finance, which demanded the most rigid economy, making curtailment of expenditure in every possible direction essential, there was no certainty at present that the Government would be in a position for some time to come to fulfil its undertaking to provide the grant of £2OOO towards the cost of the new Girls' High School. The director added that he would probably be able to inform the, board more definitely later on. In the meantime, if any action had to be taken by the board it would be necessary for it to proceed on the assumption that, its loan money would be alone available- for the purposes of the board's building programme, which would require to be curtailed accordingly. Dr. Anderson said that on this understanding the plans were approved, subject to certain suggestions for better exits and lighting Arrangements. Mr. H. Okev, M.P., wrote stating the plans had been adopted by the Education Dopartment with very little alteration. The director, he said, spoke very favorably of the plans. The chairman (Mr' E. Dockrill) said that the substance of the letter was that instead of having over £II,OOO for building purposes the board would only have something over £9OOO. Mr. M. Eraser: Well, gentlemen, after hearing that letter I will ask the chairman's permission to be allowed to smoke. Our troubles with the department over the new buildings have been such that I extend my extreme sympathy to the new members who are coming on this board, for it is evident our troubles are not over.

Tho chairman: After all the arrangements had been made, here is another hurdle we will have Vo face.

Mr. Fraser: Tho department were going to give us £4OOO and now we find we are going to get nothing.

Mr. H. Trimble: The money will no doubt be paid some day. Members: Never.

The chairman Eaid the board would now have to work with £2OOO less, and consequently it would be necessary to modify the original plans. The hoard could try a little longer to get the money, but this would delay the work, which urgently required.

GIRLS OR BOYS FIRST? Mr. W. N. Ewing suggested that the architect should be instructed to prepare plans for the Girls' High School and for additions to the boys' boarding establishment, and to leave' out in the meantime the establishment of boarding accommodation for the girls. The two first works he considered to be the most important. He regretted having to propose this, ap.d though it would be a regrettable move to cut out the girls' boarding house he felt that this was the least necessary work.

Mr. A. McHardy pointed out that the letter was not final, and he thought it would be better to wait. Mr. Ewing said that if the board decided to do as he proposed the girls' school and (lie additions to the boys' school could be started at once, and then if the money was obtained later the girls' boarding establishment could be put in hand. He moved that plans should be prepared in this direction. .Mr. Fraser strongly opposed Mr. Swing's proposals. The Boys' School had extended more rapidly than had been expected, and more accommodation was absolutely necessary. The school became crowded and "the girls were thrown overboard." Now there were 70 girls and five teachers j;i a private house, and it was not a large one, and he thought that before the board spent any money in any other direction it was their duty to put the girls' school on a proper footing. The board had been subjected to much criticism for the position in which the girls now were, aivl he thought that criticism was justified. That day ho and the chairman had visited the girls' school, and found one class of nineteen children working in a very small room, which was absolutely unhealthy. He was impressed by this so much that he at once made enquiries in the direction of procuring the use of a cl-urch to hold classes in. In view of the great disabilities the girls were working under he said it would be wrong to spend money on the toys and leave the girls out of the question. Of the two requirements a proper girls' school and adequate boarding accommodation for the girls was the most necessary.

A PROTEST TO 810 MADE. Mr. Ewing said l.liat. at the present time the boarding house provided the required accommodation. Mr. Fraser: Ye?, because we have refused girls. Proceeding, Mr. Effing said the position was that there was no further accommodation for girls and no more girls would be taken, but the board had taken more boys than they could find room for, and t'hey had to be billeted in the house. The board was not to blame for t\;e position in regard to the girls as they had done everything possible, but they had been blocked time after time by the Government. The position at the boys' school was, he

thought, more critical than at the girls' school.

Mr. J. S. Fox: The country people will not send their girls there because they know there is no proper accommodation for them. After some further discussion, it was decided to telegraph to Mr. Okey the contents of the letter from the Department, asking him to draw the attention of the Minister for Education to the matter with a view to having it put right. In the meantime, it was decided to forward the plans to the architect for further competition with a view to calling tenders for the different buildings and a commitjfie consisting of the chairman and Messrs Fraser, Webster, MeHardy, and Hutchen was appointed to confer with the architect.