ARCHITECT OF SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1920, Page 5

ARCHITECT OF SCHOOLS.

A DOMINION APPOINTMENT. EXPERT ADVICE FOR BOARDS. By Telegraph— Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. s The reason for the appointment of an architect to the staff of the Education Department, and the duties he would he called upon to perform, were explained to-day by the Minister of Education. The Minister said it was a very important appointment which, in his opinion, should have been made long ago.' The department spent annually hundreds of thousands of pounds in building new schools, and while the present officials were experts in the lighting and ventilation of buildings, and their class requirements, the department had been without skilled guidance as to the architecture of schools and methods of construction. Further, there were a number of old schools in the Dominion, which though old-fashioned, were still sound, and it was proposed to remodel these, and make them more hygienic and suitable for modern classes. This was a heavy fask, which owing to the limitations of finance and the high cost of labor and materials, must be spread over a series of years. Upon all these important matters tho department would now have expert guidance. Hitherto, many delays occurred owing to Education Boards sending in for approval plans that were unsuitable, but it was hoped now that the architect, who was a man of special experience, would be able to furnish authoritative advice to boards and their architects.