NO ROOM IN SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1922, Page 4

NO ROOM IN SCHOOLS.

PROBLEM IN NEW PLYMOUTH. TWO MORE ROOMS AT FITZROY. SCHOOL FOR MOTUROA. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. In the House, Mr. S. G. Smith (Tara* naki) asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the fact that the at* tendance officer reported on Monday, October 2, that all the schools in the town of New Plymouth were overcrowded to such an extent that intending pupils were being refused admittance, and therefore denied means of education, he will ex* pedite the decision regarding the application for grants for the erection of a school at Moturoa and additions to the Fitzroy school, and also take steps to ascertain need for additions being made to the Cen* tral and Vogeltown schools? The Hon. C. J. Parr (Minister of Education) replied: “I am well aware of the necessity for providing further primary school accommodation at New Plymouth. I propose at an early date to bring before Cabinet the matter of a grant for two rooms in concrete at Fitzroy, to be used by the infants, and to be the nucleus for a new school. This proposal, if approved, will free the gymnasium and will provide ample accommodation for requirements for some time to come. “With regard to Moturoa a proposal has been received within the last few days for a three-roomed school. This is re* ceiving the attention of my departmental officers. “The new building now being erected at Courtenay Street will accommodate Standard 1, as well as the primer classes, and will afford considerable relief to the Central School. At the Central School the board has been authorised to expend re»building moneys in remodelling some of the rooms. “In view of the action taken at the Courtenay Street and Central schools, and that proposed at Fitzroy and Moturoa, I do not think that Vogeltown can be regarded as of urgency. The board has no application for additions before the department. at present and with the auxiliary accommodation rented there is ample floor space.” Mr. Smith said the answer was very Unsatisfactory. Dozens of children in New Plymouth were being denied education because accommodation was not available. Even the Roman Catholic school had to refuse to admit mote children. The trouble was not new, and the Minister must be aware that the local authorities had been pressing their needs for years past. The department had recognised that the congestion in New Plymouth schools was acute, but the Minister seemed to be suggesting that the applications had only just reached him.