DRAINAGE OF COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8407, 23 April 1907, Page 6

DRAINAGE OF COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

Some time ago the Wairarapa School Committees' Association took up the question of installing the septic tank system of drainage in country schools. A deputation approached the Minister for Education on the subject, and, though he expressed himself as favourable to the project, he thought the Education Board should undertake the work. ; The Education Board did not favour the proposals of the Association, and in consequence a letter was written to the Health Department. The following reply has now been received from the Chief Health' Officer (Dr. Mason): — I have delayed answering your letter of March 4th in order to go into the scheme- suggested by you with regard to the desirability of borrowing money for improving the sanitary conditions of the school:;. I quite argee, with the proposal, but f am not sure that the thing is feasible in every instance. In order that a septic tank may work at all well it is absolutely necessary that there should be a considerable amount of water flowing into £1 take it that in many of the country places it would be necessary to erect tanks in which to store the rain water. The usual allowance of water made per individual per day is something like thirty gallons. This, of course, refers to houses and institutions where the people are practically resident all day. Ido not say that this amount of water is necessary in order to make the tank work properly, but tanks do work well with this quantity. To store enough water, however, for all the children would be a costly matter. Then, again, you might have some little difficulty in getting rid of the effluent of tie j tank unless you had a stream close > by. I think the best plan would be I as soon as you have money in hand to treat each school individually. It might be that in some instances it would be impossible to instal a sentic tank, and then again it'might be the best solution of this ever-re-curring difficulty. If your Board would submit any special place I will see that a report is made on the feasibility of carrying out your suggestions.