AN UNUSUAL POSITION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 250, 20 September 1929, Page 2

AN UNUSUAL POSITION.

WANGANUI TECHNICAL COLLEGE VACATEU. Following a communication from the. Minister of Education, Hon. H. Atmore, concerning the condition or the Wanganui Technical College, the Director of Education (Mr X. UStrong) and Mr T _ B Savage, of the department’s architectural branch, conferred with members of the Board of Managers of the school at a special meeting held on Wednesday afternoon. As tlie result of the statement or the director and the report of the architect, the board found itself faced with no other course but to vacate the building. The college is therefore closed, and members of the board, a committee of the Education Board, the director and the architect, will go into the question of providing other accommodation in the interim. At the meeting of the board on AVednesday the chairman commented that they had known for many years that there were structural defects in the building, but he expressed the opinion that, they could have carried on. The great difficulty was to find another building. Twenty-one rooms were required. > . Mr Strong stated that the Minister of Education felt that, after conferring with his Cabinet colleagues, the matter was so important as to permit of no delay. ■The Wanganui Education Board appointed a committee consisting of the chairman (Mr W. A. Collins), Messrs J. Aitken and W. Adams, and the secretary (Mr W. H. Swanger) which, with representatives of the Technical College Board, will be holding a meeting when it is hoped that satisfactory arrangements will be made for the temporary accommodation of the pupils. The Director of Education stated that lie had telegraphed to Wellington asking that six marquees be sent up immediately. The Education Board has arranged for its building staff to proceed immediately with the erection of temporary class rooms. As these cannot be completed for a few weeks, marquees will be used in tho meantime. Other accommodation will be sought in halls and in other suitable places in the city. Mr Strong said that he desired to express his appreciation of the prompt offers of accommodation and helpful suggestions that had been made by several business men.—Chronicle.