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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 44 No. 15. July 13 1981

[Introduction]

According to a recent news item, Aotea College in Porirua is sometimes forced to close its gymnasium because of possible danger to students. I checked with Mr Graham Murray, the senior master, who told me that they do indeed find it necessary from time to time to close their new gymnasium.

The problem is caused by two factors. One is the rubberised linoleum floor covering which becomes very slippery when wet. The other is the roof, which has panels of Novalite skylights set into the galvanised iron. It is difficult to make watertight joints between these two materials, and when the wind is in the right (or wrong) direction rain is blown through the cracks.

At such times the school authorities prefer to close the gymnasium rather than risk somebody slipping on the wet floor and being injured.

The VUW Music department also has in its corridor a rubberised linoleum floor covering which becomes slippery when wet. The department also has a roof which leaks not because of new, imperfect joints, but because it is old and the slates have moved. One apparently permanent leak is situated in the corridor outside the door of the main teaching room which students regularly pass on their way to and from classes.

The Music department roof also admits light at this point - not because it has a special panel to let the light in, but because of a gap between the slates.