FITZROY AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1921, Page 4

FITZROY AFFAIRS.

OVERCROWDING OF SCHOOL. SOME RELIEF WANTED. The quarterly meeting of the Fitzroy Ratepayers’ Association was held last night. Mr. R. Parkin presided. The attention of the association was drawn to the overcrow'ded state of the Fitzroy School by Mr. R. Day in the course of a letter to the chairman. He stated that at present the building was much too small for its purpose, and the only alternative was to use an unlined galvanised shed. Under the present conditions, however, this was not a suitable place in which to teach young children. “The overcrowded state of the building,” wrote Mr. Day, “is a menace to the health of the children, and is undoubtedly a contributing factor in the spread of infectious disease. At present I feel that something must be done, and that at once.” The chairman thought there was very good room for complaint. The committee had approached the board on the matter, but so far nothing had been done. It was stated that there were 96 children in xpne room, which was only built for 56 pupils. They, were seated three at a flesk. It was decided to communicate with the Education Board, pointing out that the existing conditions are endangering the health of the children, and asking for some relief, SHELTER SHED AT STRANDON. Further reports were received regarding the association’s efforts to secure a tramways shelter shed at Strandon. The chairman said the council did not quite fall in with the original suggestion that a temporary shed should be erected, and another proposal was made, viz., that if the council would provide the material, tire association would find the labor to erect the building. Plans had been prepared for a sfied to cost about £9B. A deputation consisting of Messrs. S. J. Smith, P. E. Stainton, and C. H. Stephenson was appointed to wait on the Borough Council in connection with the proposals. , STREET : PLANTING. The question of tree planting in the streets was discussed by the meeting. The chairman mentioned that already the association had planted a number pf puriris, for which guards were provided by the Borough Council. The trees were now thriving, well, and were being attended to by the school children. J Metnbers favored the continuation of shiet planting, and offers of donations of trees were made by Messrs. Colson and Stainton. It was decided to obtain quotations for the cost of guards for trees. GENERAL. It was decided to hold a working bee to-morrow (Thursday) for the purpose of forming the footpath in Beach Street. The chairman recalled that the association had been endeavoring to secure part of the Harbor Board reserve at the end of Beach Street for a recreation reserve, but had not met with any success. He thought it would be a set back to the suburb if they did not have some facilities in the direction mentioned. A sub-committee was set up to wait on the Borough Council with a view to again opening up negotiations with the Harbor Board.