THE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1917, Page 2

THE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

f THE 'IRE-BUILDING SCHEME. i There was some discussion at the meeting of the High School Board on Monday night over the delay that lias occurred in connection with the rebuilding of the Hoys' High School, destroyed by fire twelve months ago last August, and about which there, has been considerable correspondence between the Board and the Department. /The beeretnry reported that on August 20 he had written to the Secretary of Education forwarding plans for the proposed school and requesting approval of same as early as possible. He also requested that the procured grant of £SOOO for the part cost of the school might be placed to the credit of the board. The estimated cost of the building as shown on plan is £BSOO. Mr. Webster eaid that the board had done all it could to urge on the Department the necessity of rebuilding the school, and he thought they should now make a strong appeal on behalf of tho boys, pointing out that unless something was done at onco tho boys 'would ! have to put up with another winter in ! fne present makeshift school rooms. That alone, he considered, would be enough to stop a number of boys from coming to the school. The present buildings were commodious enough, but were like freezing chambers. It was absolutely scandalous the way the boys were treated. They could talk about the way the Germans were treating their prisoners, but it was nothing to what was going on here. It would do" the Minister a power of good to be put in the rooms that the boys ted to occupy last winter for a day, and he would soon howl to get out. Mr. Atkinson considered the rooms were not the worst part. It was the going to and fro in wet weather that ,he considered the difficulty. Mr. Webster said the buildings were not built for school rooms. They had. concrete floors and walls and were partially underground, receiving practically no sun, and last winter had no artificial heating. Mr. Fox: They must be hardy boys!

Mr. S. G. Smith said the 'board was certainly entitled to an acknowledgment of its letter but they must recognise that the matter had now advanced so far that it would have to be considered by Cabinet before a definite reply could be received. The position had readied that stage when they must he careful, what they said. The board had agreed to the modifications suggested by the Department which was quite au fait with the whole position. He thought the board's letter should be couched in careful language.

Mr. Webster thought they might go on couching their replies in careful language till the crack of doom. They should appeal on the boys' behalf.

The chairman considered tho board khould have had an acknowledgment, but considering that Parliament was in session and Ministers were very busy, they could not say that there had been undue delay in replying to the Board's request, which they must assume was under consideration by Cabinet. Mr. Robertson said it was over twelve months since the fire had occurred and not a sod had 'been turned. While he did not favor stirring up the authorities too much t'hey should bring 1 under their notice the likelihood of the boys having to spend another winter in. the present buildings.

Mr. Atkinson moved that a letter be written pointing out that no ncknonvlodgment had been received of tho receipt of plan and request for grant, and that it is very urgent that another winter should not be spent in the present unsuitable buildings. Mr. Robertson seconded.

The motion was carried. In the event Of a reply being received from the Minister a special meeting will be called.