["Demand for Fresh Air", The West Australian, Wednesday 18 March 1914, page 7]
DEMAND FOR FRESH AIR.
STATE SCHOOL TROUBLE.
Port Hedland, March 17.
On Monday only three children of one family and a Chinese put in an appearance at the State school. To-day no children at all attended. The weather has been very trying for several weeks and parents considered that more ventilation was necessary in the school. A petition signed by all the parents was presented to the Minister for Works asking him to have several shutters put in on the side whence comes the cool sea breeze, which now has no opening whatever. The cost of the whole work is only £4. The Under-Secretary for Works replied that the matter was to stand over until the Department had a man on the spot. This so incensed parents that all but one kept their children from school as a protest against the Department's refusal to grant this most necessary requirement in the case of seven children who live in the tropics. It is not likely that the children will be allowed to go to school while the hot weather lasts. A first-class local carpenter can do the work in a few days, and the public are willing to subscribe the amount. Mr. Underwood, the member for the district, yesterday telegraphed that the work would be done in two or three months' time. All the hot weather, however, will then be over. The work is necessary now in order to give the children a better chance to get through their work under favourable conditions. The parents only want fair play and decent conditions for children in a tropical climate.
