BATTLE OF SITES

Evening Star, Issue 21752, 21 June 1934, Page 15

BATTLE OF SITES

omakau school centralisation LAUDER LOCALE REJECTED The battle of the sites between Omakau and Lauder for a new consolidated primary and district high school is still being fought in the district, but the Otago Education Board yesterday again affirmed its decision in favour of the school being erected at Omakau, Resolutions were recoivecd from the Spottis Creek and Blacks School Committees urging the board to proceed with the Omakau consolidation proposal. A deputation consisting of Messrs-A. C. Secular (Mataknnui), R. Butcher (Poolburn), E. Wellington (.Devonshire), E- Naylor (.Matakanui), and C. White (Omakau) waited on the board. Air Scoular said that one ol the arguments used against Omakau as the site was that the travelling would be detrimental to the children’s health; but the best judges of that were the parents. The petition was signed by 217 parents and householders from one end of the district to the other praying that the board proceed with the centralisation scheme outlined about lour years ago. The facilities for education in the district were the same as pertained fifty or sixty years ago, and the petitioners felt that they wore entitled to improvements. He asked the board to use its best endeavours to advance the centralisation scheme for the Manuherlkia Valley. Mr Butcher pointed out that children were compelled to leave the district to obtain secondary education. “ There is no doubt that the majority of the parents in the whole district concerned want a central district high school, and by far the larger proportion want Omakau as the centre, said Mr Wallington. The board and the Education Department were quite unbiased in the matter, and alter full investigation they chose Omakau.' That really should have settled the matter, as it would never be possible to get every parent to agree to the une” locality for the centra) ;-school. Every signature to the petition now presented was that of a parent or a bona tide householder with a stake in the country. Those signing the petition represented over 100 children. Including Chatto Creek, there were twelve children available now ‘ or secondary education. From Poolburn ♦here were another twelve. If the centre were further away than Omakau the Poolburn children would be debarred the advantage of secondary education on the score of distance to travel. Quito a number of those who bad signed the counter-petition last month bad signed the present petition ; some signed the other petition under a misapprehension that the buses were to keep to the main roads only, amt that tbev would not be covered in. f he position'as the deputation saw it was that those in authority had fixed on a site, the majority, of the parents were favourable to that site, that complete 1111 animitv would never be obtained, and that therefore the authorities should accept the responsibility of proceeding with the school on the site solcotccl. % . Mr Navlor said that 2,726 acres adjoining Omakau had been and was under offer to the Government lor closer settlement. Of the area, \,Uo acres woild be actually irrigated when tlie' present “scheme under construction was completed. The roads, mail deliverv. etc., showed that Omakau would be the chief headquarters for anyone takiii-r any part of the above area. There' was" pot a doubt, according to the oponion of practical experienced farmers that the above country would support ten. families when under irnfTjition. against the present living or Two families. There was a daily mail service to the corner of one of the blocks, at Lauder The power line and also the telephone line , ran along the road below the section 46. In reply to questions the denotation stated that 101 children would attend the new school, excluding children from Chatto Creek and Poolburn, and eleven the secondary department. ' The Chairman ; It seems that both sides want secondary education, but one wants the school at Lauder and the other at Omakau., Is-there no chance of a settlement being reached ? Mr Wallington said education should be put before site, and a. settlement would probably be reached if common sense were expreised. Mr Morgan suggested that a public meeting should bo held cither at Lauder or Omakau. , The chairman was assured that, it a school were opened at Omakau in 1930. at least twenty children would attend the secondary department. After the deputation had withdrawn Mr T). C. Cameron moved :—“ That the board, having, heard two deputations from the district concerned, confirms its previous decision that Omakau is the most suitable centre for the suggested new primarv school and district high school, and ‘forwards the petitions and facts to the Minister of Education recommending him to favourably consider proceeding with the building of a suitable school at Omakau as soon as possible.” . Mr Cameroil said the deputation bad made out a very strong case. The board’s inspectors and the Minister favoured Omakau. and it would be a pity if a high school were not erected because of lack of unanimity in the district. In an'v ease, a primary school was necessary at Omakau. Mr D T. Fleming seconded the motion. The question of site had been fullv investigated, and it scorned to him that Omakau was the more central olacc. For the, sake of education, early 'ln-litv should bo reached. Mr W . B. Brngb said it was unforUmate that (be local divisions occurred, l-nt the board's stand bad boon firm. The local view, ho hoped, would give way to broader vision when the school was erected. , , Mr fi. Livingstone also supported the motion. Mr Morgan said that site was not mentioned in the petition, and he behoved that many people bad signed it the hope that the school would be -w-ted at Lauder. ... The Chairman; The petition loaves fbn question of site to the board, whose view has been well-known for several VGA. VS. Mr Morgan said a school at Omakau would be centralised without being centT Mr J. Sheppard agreed with the board’s intention to affirm its earlier decision, as unanimity iri the district was impossible. . In repiv to Mr W. Cooper, the Chairman said he did not think that null a secondary school \Vould he opened at Omakau, Tfc bchevod that when the school was erected other schools would also join in. “ The others will he very sore over it. ii« they have boon taken by surprise." said Mr Morgan, moving an amendment that the question be hold up for a month There was no seconder for the amendment, and the motion was carried.