The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." FRIDAY, JULY 26. 1918 TO BE OR NOT TO BE!

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 395, 26 July 1918, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." FRIDAY, JULY 26. 1918 TO BE OR NOT TO BE!

The heading as above is eminently applicable to the existing position in connection with the scheme for a Technical High School to be established in Pukekohe. There is a consensus of opinion that such a school is desirable in the interests of the rising generation of the district. In his visit last Friday to Pukekohe, the Minister for Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan, M.P.) was understood to express his approval of the project, and, in fact, lie intimated that he would be prepared to recommend it to the Cabinet with a view of the necessary monetary grant being made, provided that the free offer of a site for the school building was forthcoming. Official minds are liable to change, and the matter accordingly is an urgent one. Delay will probably mean that the shadow will be pursued whilst the substance is lost, and therefore we would urge that it is imperative that the site difficulty should be speedily overcome, It is apparent that the state of the finances of both the Borough Council and the County Council constitutes ;iu insuperable obstacle to any money , being voted, and it is not legally possible to resort to a loau for the purpose. Fined down, the situation apparently is that it the residents of Pukekohe want the suggested school, the Borough must find the requisite land. A portion of the Borough Domain, to the extent of seven acres, would meet requirements, and il i- probable thai the Council will. by means of a referendum, give the ratepayers an opportunity of saying 1 whether they are prepared lo sur--1 render possession of that area of 1 the Reserve in return for the advantages lo he gained by the provision of educational facilities lint will assuredly lie found highly beneficial in the interests nl lb,- child ten of to-day and of the hum*. The Domain, as it (low exists, comprises l!» acre- in all. and with a cerlain area allotted a- a sports''ground but little u-.'d owing In il- damp condition the whole i- used practically tmlv for grazing purposes, producing of course only a nominal revenue. It may conceivably be argued thai in day- to eomo the open space of the Domain will be appreciated amidst a

closely populated urea, but this; is looking very many years ahead, and, in any rase, we are of opinion that the ratepayers will be inclined to favour the allocation of seven acres for educational need* rather than that the town should he deprived of the same simply for possibilities appertaining to rbe indefinite future, especially when it is remembered that a balance of 12 acres will still remain on hand for utilisation as a recreation arena when funds and circumstances permit and warrant