GYMNASIUM PLAN

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1940, Page 6

GYMNASIUM PLAN

OLD OIRLS' OFFER OF £500 Immediate steps towards securing a Government subsidy for the proposed gymnasium at the, New Plymouth Girls' High School were decided on by the high schools board last night after a letter had been read from the old girls' association offering to find £500 of the cost. Appreciation was expressed by the b( * rd of the splendid off er by the association. The building committee was instructed to go into estimated costs of a suitable building and it was decided to notify the department of the board's intention to go ahead with the work. At the June meeting of the board advice was received that the Government was prepared to give favourable consideration to an application for a subsidy of £2 for £1 up to a maximum subsidy of £2000, on the understanding that it would do so only while the present policy was maintained. At that meeting the board considered that the old girls' association was so busily engaged in war work that it would be unable . to assist, and consideration was deferred. The advice of the £500 offer from the association, however, changed the situation ahd the secretary, Mr. O. H. Burford, informed the board last night that, provided the building could be built for £3000. as seemed likely, the board could manage the remaining £500. The board agreed that it was desirable to go ahead at once in case the policy of granting those subsidies were changed. The association in its letter pointed out that, though it considered that where possible works should be deferred because of the war, there were sound reasons for going ahead with the gymnasium proposal. If the building wer.e delayed the cost would probably rise. The Government's offer of a subsidy might be withdrawn and it was not likeD' that, if it were not accepted, it would be offered again. Physical education for girls was important, but facilities of the type suggested were lacking at the school. Finally, the school did not have a room where all the giiis could assemble without discomfort.