OUR TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 19

OUR TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

■ j . THE QUESTION OF SITE. ! PROPOSED BILL APPROVED. i The proposal, to submit for the approval of Parliament a Bill providing for a rearrangement of tho conditions 011 which tho, Wellington Technical School is at present dependent for its development and future extension was considered at a special meeting of the Wellington City Council held yesterday afternoon, when there were present: The Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.), and Councillors J. P. Luke, M.P., J. J. Dcvine, D. M'Lafen, M.P.,' G. Frost, T., Carmichael, W. H. Morrah, 6. Shirtcliffe, T Ballingor, F. Cohen, J. E. Fitzgerald, and J. Trevor. The subject has been' quite recently before the public in previous discussions by the City Council and the Wellington Technical School Board. Shortly stated, the proposal is that the peppercorn lease of' the Merccr Street property at present held by.the School Board from the corporation shall bo surrendered, and a new lease arranged whereby that property may be sublet in terms of a "Glasgow" lease for the remainder of the period of 60, years (about five years have gone) ; and the rental capitalised (as a speSies of endowment), with the purpose of raising a substantial sum, which,- with a Government £ for £ subsidy, would be set. down for the building of a new technical school in John Street, Newtown; further, that a certain area 011 tho Town Belt be granted on lease at a peppercorn rental as an addition to the present John Street site, which has been purchased for a sum of £500, the latter. site being considered inadequate] The matter was before the- City Council last year, though 011 the basis of . a. different arrangement—a conveyance instead of a lease—and the proposals then submitted were thrown out.

Tho proposition now before tho u>un\ cil having been approved by. thb Technical School Board at a special meeting held a few days ago, Councillor M'Laren, with the object of obtaining the consent of tho corporation to the necessary legislatibn being proceeded with, moved as follows: — "(1) That a, Bill bo introduced to Parliament to provide. for the leaving of a portion of the Town Belt at John Street for technical education purposes and to provide for a valuation of .tho lease of - premises iij Mercer Streot, now- leased by the council to the managers of the Technical Education Board.

"(2). That,.,the. Bill be prepared by tho city solicitoi, and bubraitred to tho Legislative and Leaseholds Committee for aDnroval." •••',.•

Councillor M'Laren spokb briefly • iu support of tho motion, and said ho could, hardly cnnciiivo t/f any opposition to tho, proposals. Tho motion was seconded 'by. Councillor Luke, and a long discussion, much of it extrai. ous to the real fissile followed.. '

Councillor Shirtcliffe; while thoroughly in agreement with the general , purpose in view,' desired it to be , made perfectly' clear that whatever arrangement was. arriveid at, nothing would bo done to alienate the council's assets for tho cuooiiragcmqnt of technical education. The properties should, 1 he considered, revert to the .council in any case.

His Worship agreed. They could-not, under, tho law; mortgage the property •in Mercer Streot, or even sell the lease.

Councillor Ballinger said that all that was proposed was that the rentals should be capitalised at a 'premium.

'His Worship explained that to do .that special legislation would be necessary."

' Councillor- Ballinger said that that was so—hence the proposed "Bill. Tho spoaker then reviewed tho position at length.

Councillors Devine, Morrah, Trevor, and Carmichael opposed the idea. Councillor Morrah said that in the first place he objected to a proposal under which the Government would be enabled to shirk its duty in. the matter of encouraging technical education, and secondly, lie strongly'disapproved of building upon tho town belt.' ' Ultimately, .. Councillor Fitzgerald moved as an amendment that the'-pro-posals be' referred to the. Legislative and Leaseholds Committee for consideration, the . report to come before tho Council at its next arid that, if necessary,. the city solicitor (Mr. O'Shea) and Mr. C. P. Skerrett 'be consulted _ with regard to the legal questions involved. The amendment was seconded, and carried.-