SCHOOL DESKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2447, 11 March 1909, Page 2

SCHOOL DESKS.

THE SINGLE OR DUAL? A QUESTION OF FINANCE. The question of supplying the various schools in the Hawke’s Bay education district with single or dual desks was discussed at Monday’s meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board. Six samples of each type were in the room for inspection by members. SINGLE DESKS. The chairman submitted the following report on the single desks: “No. 1. This is the type being supplied to the Napier Technical School. They cost 26s Id each when erected. This desk is not stable, and must he strengthened or will soon go to pieces. It was made in Dunedin. On arrival of this desk the Board’s contractor was asked to .quote for similar desk made in Napier. A local foundry quoted him 21s for the. iron standards alone.

“No. 2. This is the type supplied for the Waipawa secondary classes. The iron standards were- made in Dunedin at a cost of Bs, and -the woodwork was done by the Board’s Napier contractor. The desk is similar to No. 1 save, that two wrought iron stays have been added. These have greatly improved the desk, which costs us 27s 6d, erected in Napier. “No. 3. This is the department’s model. It is the same type as dual desk No. 1 below. We have not installed any singles of this type, as the price asked by the contractor, namely 32s 6d, is altogether too high. A great objection to this type is that there is too much timber on the floor, which obstructs the cleaning, etc.

“No. 4. This is the American desk as supplied by Forbes and Co. It is a very strong, neat and serviceable desk. This type has been installed in many of the secondary schools of the colony for .several years, and has given absolute satisfaction. It will bo observed that the height of the desk and seat can bo adjusted—a great advantage. The cost of this desk (average size) when quoted a few months ago was 24s 6d (including setting up in Napier). “No. 5. This is the desk just imported from Canada and supplied to Mahora School. It is similar to No-. 4 above, except that the height is not adjustable, This desk has ball bearings, and consequently the seat runs smoother, and with an absence of that noise so noticeable in all the other types. The cost of the desk, including duty at 25 per cent, and cost of setting up, is 20s. “It will he noticed that in Nos. 4 and 5 tho desk top does not lift as in the case 1 of the others. Many consider that the lifting top, painted inside, which may be used for freearm drawing, is an advantage.” DUAL DESKS. The chairman further reported on the dual desks: “No. I.—This is an enlargement of No. 3 above. Our Napier contractor’s price is 32s 6d. The seat is in one piece, which is very undesirable. The desk is well designed, well constructed, and excellently finished. “No. 21 —rThis is the type supplied by a Napier builder to tho Napier High School. at 30s. The seat is in one piece and the top does not lift. The seat action is unsatisfactory. It is a much inferior pattern to No. 1 above.

“No. 3.—This is the dual of No. 4

above: Separate seats are provided for each pupil. Supplied by Forbes and Co. at 365. “No. 4. —This is a sample dual desk from Wellington. It is unsuitable for primary schools. Cost £2 11s Bd, in Wellington. “No. 5. —This is the dual desk of the pattern similar to No. 5 single desk above, with two seats and ball hearings throughout. I estimate it can be set up in Napier at 25s each. The manufacturers give a ten years’ guarantee with this desk.”

The Chairman’s statement continued :—“Except the cases of the new Kaiti and Gisborne schools, the Board has given no definite instruction regarding the supply of single or dual desks. The question of typo and •supply of this class of desk lias been on many occasions discussed by the Building Committee, but as in not a single instance has the graint been sufficient to provide even dual desks throughout, and as in, the majority of cases there has been barely enough to supply the old type of furniture,-the instructions of the Board have been to do the best possible with the money available, and this we shall continue to have to do. Mahora School is just supplied with the first single desks installed for primary classes in Hawke’s Bay, and this because The grant for the school was higher than usual, the tender for the building was exceptionally low, and we found that we could get a first-class.desk exceptionally cheap. A few instances will illustrate the difficulties the Beard has to contend with in the supply of furniture: —Mangapapa: The grant for this addition was £147 less than that for Mahora, which was practically tho same building in all respects. The lowest tender for the addition was £55 higher than for that at Mahora, so that allowing the same amount in ,leach ease for apparatus, there was £202 less available for desks. Single desks were here out of the question, so duals (made in Gisborne) at 32s 6d were installed,..which so taxed, the grant that the drainage, which should have been out of the special grant, was paid for out of the maintenance fund. Tamaki: Application was made for £825. The department granted £750. The lowest tender for the building was £648. After allowing for clearing, fencing of site ami supply of apparatus, it was found that there was not money enough to ptovide any single desks nor even al 1 duals, but only duals in tho upper room, and long, old type desks in the lower room. Dozens of instances of this kind can be enumerated.” The chairman said it was his duty to insist on the Board being as economical as possible and the Board should purchase the best desks for the cheapest price. The Board had to consider the children and not the local manufacturers. He submitted a statement showing the state of the finance of the Board. He stated that the maintenance net credit on December 31st. 1908, was £4253 6s sd. Since 1903 tho Board had received close on £6OOO for the special purpose of rebuilding. This money had been credited to the ordinary maintenance account and had been spent chiefly on repairs. The Board had done comparatively little in the past in tho way of rebuilding, hut a great deal was now required to he done to residences, schools and furniture. Sir William Russell stated that it might be interesting for members to know that the Board had no less than 11 residences and 29 schools of 30 years of age. If any of these were by any means destroyed the Board would he expected to find 55 per cent ot the cost of the new buildings and if renewed owing to old age, the Board had to rebuild at its own cost. He suggested that a sum be set. aside yearly to a special account to he used solely for rebuilding or replacing the Board’s property. Tho buildings grant for 1908 included £1024 for this purpose. " Mr McLernon moved that the action of the chairman in obtaining samples of single desks and importing a small shipment be approved. Ho said it was the desire of the Board to patronise as much as possible, the products of this country, but when the Board’s finances were limited, it was their duty to economise in the purchase of desks. He considered, however, that if the Board could in future purchase desks in the Dominion at. a price, which would satisfactorily compare with that of the imported article, the Board should patronise the Dominion product. The motion was carried without further discussion.

Mr Darton said it appeared from the chairman’s statement that -they were doing nothing to secure the Board against loss of buildings and lie considered that a sum should be set aside each year to insure buildings over 20 years of age in case of fire, as after the Board held a school for 20 years, they were responsible. He moved: —“That a sub-committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs McLernon and Tanner bo appointed to report on (a) the advisableness of setting aside a yearly sum of money to the credit of a special account for tho purpose of rebuilding or repairing the Board’s property; (b) tho amount of money to bo set a.side; (c) the advisableuess of insuring 4 all or some of the schools and residences; (d) the probable” cost of such insurance; ancL’(e) whether in case of fire such insurances would he paid to the Board.” Tho motion was seconded by Mr McLernon and carried. PURCHASE OF DESKS.

In accordance with, notice of motion, Mr Whittington moved: —“That when , the inspectors have reported upon the number of drew desks required by tho schools in the district, 'tenders he called locally and in the large towns of the Dominion for the supply of single or ..dual desks, to- bo delivered at the rate of, say, 200 a year.” In speaking to tho motion, Mr Whittington said that some system of supplying the desks to tile 1 schools was advisable. Ho thought that a certain sum of money should bd earmarked annually for say 10 years, and at the end of that time they would be able to have all the schools supplied. He was strongly of opinion that they could obtain the desks they wanted in the Dominion at prices nearly as low as those ruling outside. If tenders were called in such ‘ a manner that they wanted 5000 desks extended over a'cbrtain period, they could get them much cheaper. - The; manufacturers would lay themselves out-for the work, and the' prices would, be accordingly lower. As a member of the Board, 110 was prepared to- pay a-little more for the locally-made article. Mr McLernon, in seconding the motion said the., reason they could not

.get a satisfactory desk at a reasonable price was that the manufacturers wore pot aware that a large quantity was required. The Board should now decide on the pattern of desk to be supplied, and tenders should he tailed throughout the Dominion. Jitney could not obtain the article locally at a reasonable price, then the desk would hav.e to bo imported. •Sir William Russell said they all agreed with the.principle of obtaining tho desks locally, provided the desks were of a good quality and the price was reasonable. The motion was.then put and carried unanimously.