THE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL. CASUALTY LIST.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1917, Page 5

THE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

CASUALTY LIST.

ItEBUILDING SOHEJIE. A STRONG DKI DTATIOX. A representative deputation of citizens of New Plymouth waited on the Minister of .Education last night. Mr. Okey introduced the imputation. Mr. A. H. Johnstone stated that the deputation, representative of every interest in New Plymouth, was anxious to nee the Boys' High Seiiool rebuilt, and had time permitted there would have been a strong deputation from the country, which ivwu just as vitally interested ii: the matter as the town. He referred to the loss sustained by the fire, and staled that the Hoard had had plana prepared for a new srhool, which, it was hoped, would be carried into effect and tlie. needs o£ secondary education in the district would be complied with for many years to come. The Board, however, could not do thin with the money at its disposal. Five years ago there uias a total attendance of 70 boys and 70 girls, whereas to-day there were 130 at the Girls' .School and 240 at the Boys' School, and 103 boarders. There had been a steady increase for years and tljere was no need to assume that it would stop. He thought the Department would bo unwise to restrict the design. He had heard it suggested tkafc possibly the science room could be done without. There was no branch of knowledge more necessary to promote than science. Tho natural resources of our country were to a large extent undeveloped, because there had been no provision for scientific research. It would aluo bq a pity to cut out the assembly room, whiob had licen part and parcel of .ciiools of the Umpire for generations, lie also hoped it would lot be necessary to curtail the, suhool from an architectural point of vioiv, pointing out that a 'mall sum of money might Wan all the difference' Between un eyesore and a thing of beauty, and he pointed out th.? difficulty of inculcating high ideals if tho surroundings wero not congenial. The Board had erected the Girls' School, the boys' boarding house and incurred other expenditure, only having received a grant of £2OOO fioin the Government. They were not in a position to find any of the £II,OOO necessary, and the imputation hoped tho Jlinisti:' would'glvc 111" matter favorable consideration. dci'hk flu- present time was inopportune iki it n H-t, i )e borne in mind that cdu-cirt-nn-n'ust 20 on in war time as much n« i>t anv other time. 'He appealed to the Minister to help thnjioard in the difficulty in which it found itself.

Dr. Anderson, whilo appreciating the eloquent and effective Address, said that the speaker could not expect him to see the matter in the same aspect. He took the responsibility of suggesting the cutting out of the assembly hall as the. least essential, and one that could bo erected later. He thought 'he also suggested tlwt there should be two science rooms instead of three. Tho main point, was thai the plan submitted provided for a 'building to cost '£12,000, and in view of tho actual atfendanco f secondary pn- ■ ils and tho. mnoun'. found necessary in other centred lie came to the conclusion that the amount was in excess of what he could reasonably expect to entertain hiinelf tie suggested to the architect that the plan' should be cut down to an estimated cost of £SoOO and re, submitted. This had not been douey While an Assembly 'Hail was an important feature of tho organic life of a| boarding school a number of schools did successful work without, and the Board should do without unless they could reduce the total cost by other means. If that were doir ho would be prepared to recommend the Minister to ask Cabinet to make a fairly liberal grant, hut not on the understanding that tho Government provide tho difference between '£3300 and £12,000. Whatever its aspirations tho Board should at present confine itself to essentials. He pointed out that tho Public Trustee had advanced tho Board £12,000 and was not prepared to advance any more, and that the Board had mado no arrangements regarding repayment, tie pointed out also that tho Board, besides its revenue from its own endowments, received nearly £IOOO for tho secondary school endow,ments, and i" ono or more secondnry school were esta,Wished in tho district it would follow that the Board would lose a share of that revenue.

The Hon. J. A. Hanan said lie regarded the .proposals ivs rather ambitious. These were abnormal times, and all proposals for expenditure would -eceive, as they ought, more careful consideration. If all applications were given effect to it would mean that 'Parliament woul«' hove to vote an increased amount next session, and lie did not know whether Cabinet would approve that increase. To him, the claims of primary .Jucation came first), as all right thinking persons would agree. Had lie been able to obtain the vote as I "'< l for school buildings I it would have meant an additional inI crease of '£30,400, Ho hud been going into the finances of Education Boards. Sonic were satisfactory; othe." went not. .'Representations made by the .Boards j would involve a large sur of money that under present conditions lie would not ask for. An important branch, the school medical service, needed more extended scope, and there were other roforms in the promotion of <ealth, but the question was, where was the, money to come from? The needs of technical education were also 'being urged. Tlio industrial and special school branch expenses were also increasing. In fact, educational needs generally would require an increased vote, which lie would not get. While there were many applications for needs in primary schools, lie had to examine very closely proposals for secondary schools. He valued secondary education very much and did not object to the High .School being re-es-tablished here, but he asked then under the circumstances not to ask for money tlwt it was difficult for the Minister to obtain, 'lie was anxious to 'lelp 'but would say to the 'Board of Governors: '•Can you not hold over certain features of your programme till times become normal t" In conclusion, he referred to tlio excellent, master tho school possessed find hoped lie mould long remain with them, as tiie master made the school. The deputation thanked the Minister and withdrew. ■ ■

THE MKISTEB AXD THE BOARD. NEED TOR ECONOMY. . Subsequently tho numbers of tTie Board and Mr. W. IT. 'Moyew (Principal) met the Minister of Education, all members being present. Tlio chairman (Mr. D. Hntehen) stated that it must bis evident to the Minister that good work could not be done, under existing conditions, ifto did not knowhow the school would get on this winter. Plana had ibeen prepared for the now , idwel. . .which, ifc tyctober .wag^ea-

timalod lu coat ;£ 12,300. It tWQji estimated, that with increased cost". tras and architects' tiicVxisfc wnnlit l)o. £2OOO additional. The iniuraiicj money in hand was r £3«o. The provided for an attendance <rf,2oou£3 ' he thought that i(. would ba foqliajPtolj , provide for less. Having regara Wwt -■> way in which the school had increattd* during tlie past five years and the WB th#t the school was a provincial one, tl.e number of scholars would be quite ' 250 when (lie-class rooms were completed. pointed out that the Board hasunder ' ■ consideration tlie question of the repay- ■' ment of the loan money, -but'lie thought f j'fti: tlie Hoard should llrst complete the ,j work that it had in hand and in cont.eiiipiation, as they did not knOiW how fl fi'r they would have to encroach on their ordinary revenue. Tie couTd not ConenQ in the idea that the plans should be rut (lov/n, as he considered that they represented the minimum requirements. It would ho manifestly unfair to put 0# a building and find in a couple of years' time that a considerable sum had to tie expended to meet •"<iuircinenti. Mr., Slndden pointed oirfi th#t k|lQ building would Ibe built in concftfo'tof brick. 'Dr. Anderson stated that he objSstSl to the board liavi: raised a loan of t!-VOO by Order-in-Council from th(| Public Trustee, without the Minister of Education, who was saddled with the W* * sponsibility for the interest, having ffig 1 Opportunity of approving or otherwise. He again pointed out that thero was ti probability that the secondary scßOQli endowment might- have to be: divided ja Hie event of another High School"btißfl established in the province. He lOOMI upon the boarding school as a good cuH set. Ho said that whatever the Hoard had they must cut the plano down to the lowest essentials, as it tWutf useless asking Cabinet for a large Mft without superlatively good refutani. Frankly the only chaneo would W ttti niako a moderate demand, wMcK hf would back up to a limit of '£6500, Mr. liutehen: Do yo uimagino we can get a school built for that athountlj ' Dr. Anderson said that 110 had jna&ti proposal to the architect to make use at the two rooms left by the fire ancj to do away with the Assembly Hall, would cost at least £'2ooo. Mr. Moye.«: If it cost '£4ooo 16 Wdal4 be money well spent. The vrhole sotl&l life of the school revolves aroaud (lit Assembly Hall in a boarding school, • Br. Anderson said if the plana iMtM • not cut, down they would got nothing, because if not too high it would! not M considered. ' The chairman asked in what ot&l directions the curtailment should ¥4 made. • "MHJ Hon. .T. A. Hanan reiterated thai h°e epuld hold out 110 hope of Cabinet ap« proving a gi'ant for the amount aelriedi Ai! liad heard the cry, "Look! at 001 1 delapidated primary school as compare! with the palatial High School I They can get tlio money they want." This, ol course, could be answered but it carried weight. He repeated his remarks to the public deputation re, primary schools* stating that tlie claims of secondary schools must be subordinate to (111 claims of primary schools and other eew vices. While recognising the a'dvantagei of environment 110 thought the Board 1 should do its best with the money at it* disposal. TTe would not feuaranteei to gel any money I'Ut would do Ms best. ~ Some discussion took place on finandsj matters, after wliL'i the Minister Mkej. •the Board what they were prepared ii do to lucct the stress of circumstances) The chairman asked if the Mmistet would be prepared to specify the amount he would grant and the Board would amend its plans accordingly and thui 'save tho expense of preparing .plans tha( might not be approved. Mr. K P, Webster depreciated spoiL ing a school that would last as longH tho Dominion itself for the sake oft t £IOOO or '£"2000. , Dr. Anderson suggested that thS plan should be so designed that it could! & added to. Ho was not prepared to «J what amount 110 would recommend. 3BCq thought a. suitable building could be erected for £9590. It had! been don« before the iwar for '£Booo or '£7ooo. After further discussion it was decided ■that Dr. Andorson should 1 give, the Ogt« ter consideration and inform the Board , what giant be was prepared to recftafc mend. ' ' 7 :~™ i 'frill * c