ERECTION OF NEW SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1918, Page 3

ERECTION OF NEW SCHOOLS.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT METHODS CRITICISED. The action of the Education Department in regard to the erection of new school buildings c&me in for considerable discussion at the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board on Wednesday. The Education department notified that it could not entertain the proposal for a detached room at Fitzrov, and asked ( if the Board would submit an amended proposal having in view the extension of the existing building. The overseer was instructed to prepare plans for the ereotion of additions Pjt Fiwroy in wood, and application will be made to the Department for a grant. Mr Smith desired to record his protest, as ho considcrej that the Board should again approach the Department. He also protested against tho action of the Department, whioh was driving scholars ovit of the public schools to private school.?.

The subject was farther discussed when in reference to the Board's application for a grant of £Ol-2 for"an additional class room at Okaiawa, t.lie Department stated that (lie .Board's proposal provided accommodation so far in excess of the present needs that it could be entertained only as part of a scheme of rebuilding, in which case the Board would he required to contribute £390In tliis case plans should be provided Showing how further rooms were to be erected when the existing building was worn out. The Department was prepared to consider the approval of a moderate sum for tho purpose of extenrJrng and subdividing the room, that is 20ft. wide, in accordance with the suggestion made by Mr Spencer when visiting Taranaki. Mr White said that this was on a pa? with Fitzroy, and the sooner the Board made a stand with regard to Okaiawa the better. It was disgraceful that the Department should think of adding to buildings that should have been on the scrap heap years ago. The Chairman pointed out that the positions were, somewhat different, as the present Htzroy building would last another ten years, whereas Okaiawa" should not last another ten months. Mr Dixon said that both Normanby and Okaiawa .should have been rebuilt long before this. Normariby had been under consideration for fivo years. Such treatment by the Department made men sick to the heart of the t&ihoa policy. People would not tolerate for twentyfour hours in the commercial world what was tolerated from the Government. It was a wonder that they could get men to give their time to education under such a policy. The overseer was instructed to prepare a complete plan showing the work proposed to be done at present and the whole of the work when completed in concrete.

Later Mr Dixon said that the Board's forward policy had been hampered by the Department- The Board, whose menvbers were on the spot and knew the nature of the ground; sut in claims for various works, which the Department, evidently from want of trust in the Board had not followed. They had erected schools too small and had to enlarge them two. or threi times in a very few years. What was wanted in the Department were men with vision and men who would trust those who had the hest knowledge. It was a shame and a disgrace that tho NoTmanhv school had not Ijeen erected.