HIGH-HANDED?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 505, 7 November 1928, Page 1

HIGH-HANDED?

PLAYGROUND “CONFISCATED” BREEZE AT EDUCATION BOARD Talk of an attempt to “confiscate” part of the Wellesley Street School playground for the use of Technical College pupils, ruffled the equanimity of the Auckland Education Board to-day. The Minister of Education wrote stating that he had been “urged” by the Board of Managers of the Technical College to introduce legislation to secure an area behind the board’s office as an extension to the college playing area. The Minister suggested that the board should notify the Wellesley Street headmaster that the area would not be available for his pupils from February 1. “Why should the Board of Managers go over our head to the Minister?” asked the chairman, Mr. A. Burns. “It would have been common courtesy to come to this board first.” CHAIRMAN IGNORANT Mr. H. S. W. King, chairman of the Board of Managers, said that he had no knowledge of a letter being sent to the Minister “urging” him to give the area to the college. He would never agree for one moment to prejudice the use of the playground of Wellesley Street School. The question of new ground for the college was, however, a vital one. His board had no intention of being discourteous to the Education Board or t© the school. “Representations were made to have the college made a public school uncSr the Act 'in ' order *to acquire new grounds,” ' Mr. King continued. Mr. J. P. McPhail: No, it was put in for a certain reason. Mr.. McPhail, who also represents the board on the Board of Managers, said that .the question of increasing the grounds- had come up, but he was astounded when he- read of the attempt to secure the ground. Messrs. King Brounlee ahd himself had all objected to the public school playground being taken,” but the application to the Minister had been made for that one purpose to confiscate the playground. Mr. King Tha- is not right. DUTIES EXCEEDED “The director of the college was not authorised to write, and if he has applied for the ground he has exceeded his duties” said Mr. McPharl. If he has asked for it, he has asked for something he Had no right to ask for.” Mr. King declared that there was: ixothing in the minds of members about the confiscation” of the playground Mr. Burns: It says here, “the board has approached me.” I’ve had my suspicions for some time. Mr. G. Brounlee: While the ground is required for the primary school, the college should not get it. “One may take it thrat the principal has exceeded his instructions,” said Mr. Burns. “There is a strong protest from the City School Committees. We should take every legitimate step to prevent it coming about.” Mr. King, to the Chairman: I would like to disabuse my mind of an action of unfriendliness on your part toward me. You should have rung me ud about this. The Chairman: I don’t think I’ve done any wrong. Mr. King: It would have been a courtesy to me. Mr. Burns: I think the other way You, as the representative of the board on the college board should have runs me up. The. board decided to oppose the “confiscation.”