MOERA PROTESTS.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 13, 22 August 1929, Page 10

MOERA PROTESTS.

ALTERATION TO SCHOOL J BOUNDARY.

In striking the boundary for the new school area at Moera, the Education Board has encroached on -half the settlement.-The old boundary line followed the railway line towards the new railway workshops,- taking in Awamutu. The new. boundary line iwas brought further into the settlement, taking away from Mo era half the Mandel Block.

The Moera residents do not favour the idea, and on Monday night they held an indignation meeting in the Mo-, era Hall, as a protest against their settlement being broken tip, and the heart of therr community being taken away.

The chairman for the evening -was Mr. G. Sutherland (chairman of the Ratepayers' Association). Others present included Messrs G-. M. Paris and G-. A. Malm (Moera School Commissioners), Sir Alexander Roberta (Mayor of Lowdr Hutt), Mr. J. L. Rentoul (representing the Parents' Association) and Mr. J. StonehoiiSe (Education Board representative for the district), and Mr. Whiteman (representing the Waiwhetu School Committee).

The commissioners explained their • past activities in discussions with tie ! Education Board and their endeavours

to have the boundary question rectified. They also1 laid stress on the necessity for this meeting of residents in order to let the "board know of their unanimity on the subject: Mt. Bentoul quoted figures to show that tie boundary proposed by the board was quite an unnecessary pTOcedure, and pointed out that the serious burden that would have to be shouldered by some the young children in the community, who would be deprived of attending the school built in their midst. Mr. Stonehouse assured the meeting that he was prepaTed to recommend to the Board that the boundary be extended to the railway line as originally intended, the alteration" being only a tentative one in order to avoid if possible any unnecessary crowding of the new Eiandwick Road, school. Speakers who intended carrying on in local-school'work-gave their assurance to the people that the question of Awamutu being included in the Moera school area would not be dropped. Sir Alexander Roberts said 'that he saw-'the justice of t>he residents' request and added that even if a representative of the board had not been present, he would have striven his xAi most to see that the original boundary remained. ■ _ The following resolution was carried unanimously:— "That this mass meeting of tthe residents of Moera respectfully and emphatically condemn and protest against the action of the Board of Education in their proposal to strike through Mason Street ,the new school boundary, thereby dividing and "taking away the •heart of the community, and request that the boundary be carried back to the railway line, as originally intended, and so preserve the unity of the district of Moera."