TERRACE GAOL SITE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2214, 29 July 1914, Page 8

TERRACE GAOL SITE

EDUCATION BOARD'S PLEA

AGITATION FOR A SCHOOL

As.the result of a motion passed at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Education Board.' it is not- at all -unlikely that in the near (or distant) future the present Terrace .Gaol site, tho present forbidding residence of criminals, - will be converted into an. institution with an entirely different purpose—tho framing of the child mind lor responsibilities oi life. Mr. \V. Allan niado the suggestion in the following motion': —''That in determining the uses to which the area known as the Terrace Gaol site shall be devoted on the removal of the gaol, _ the. Government be requested to re- ' servo a sufficient area there for a large city school in place of the Te Aro Sc'liooli".,' .. ■. . In putting his motion before the meeting, Mr. Allan said that he had been given to understand that within a, limited period the Terrace-' Gaol site would be abandoned by' the Justice Department. This site was ail admirable one. for a school. The Willis Street School, continued Mr:-Allan, was one of those) schools which had been built in what was now a very congested area. At present it was closely built all round, ■end was right up against the street,so that the children, in rushing out of school, were liable to danger from tramcars, etc. The school building was not an old one by any means,; but the sito. tfas not «.very good;one. There were not very many vacant spaces in the locality of the present school. In view of all ' these facts, tho speaker considered that what he proposed was a suggestion that should be' taken up.' The gaol site was centrally situated, in an admirable position, and from a health point of view Was excellent: Ho understood that ilie area was-about 6 "or 7 acres. They would" hot require all of this, of course, but application might be made to the Government to allocate two acres of land on the north-, 'era portion of the property. The present Willis Street site was a very valuable one, and the work he proposed could probably be carried out from the proceeds from the sale: of laud and buildings. % Mr. Hogg seconded fha motion. ' He remarked that ho quite, agreed with the vomoval of the present citadel of crime away from the centre of the city. Instead of'a gaol, he would like to see a school ornamental to that part of the City erected there. ',■''. The motion was then-put to 'the meeting, and carried,... "..■'"..'. , ..' -Sir, Walter. Buchanan intimated that b-i would,place his motor-car.at the dis-. posal of the Minister, so that, he could visit, the spot. ".,..'. .',.■ --.''■ ;.' 'The 'chairman:' But tee. Want the two Ministers. The. land at present.. belongs to the Minister of Justice (5?.'- fltdman);- and we'want, him to transfer it to the Minister, of Education (Mr. Allen). .'. . .'.. /

■ A member: Well, we will get hold of the two of, them.