GROWTH OF NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1917, Page 6

GROWTH OF NEW PLYMOUTH.

INCREASED EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES REQUIRED. ■Evidence of the growth of N.;w I*iymouth wa3 apparent at yesterday's meeting of the. Board of Education* when the question of providing educational facilities for the rising "suburbs of Vogeltowiu, Westown and Moturoa. as well .for coping with the question of increased accommodation at the present overcrowded West End School was - also brought before the Board. These are all matters that th.; Board lias had .before it for some time past, and reports on sc- of them were submitted to yesteri'.. meeting. WEST END AND WESTOWN. In connection- Iwith the West End School a committee consisting of the chairman "and -Mr. S. CI. Smith, who had been appointed to enquire into the matter, reported as follows: This position requires the careful consideration of the Board on account of the growing needs of the district in the vicinity «of tho West End School and West End districts. As a matter; of expediency the recommendation to purchase an additional area, owned by Mrs. Taylor, to extend the West End grounds would suffice. There isj. however, the greater question of providing facilities for Westown in addition to thoso of West End. It must bo obvious to members that in the near future' some educational facilities must be provided for the children of the residents of Westown. Tho -case could, wo feel sure, be overcome by the amalgamation of ihe West End and Westomi districts and the building' of a. school to meet the requirements of tho two industries. There is a municipal reserve with an area of 10 acres situated in a central position on the Ciitfiold Road. Arrangements could possibly be made for the exchange for an educational reserve of equal value with the Borough Council. - Tlijs ijite is beautifully situated on high and dry ground with an area none too large for a school of the proposed one would be. The locality is in every way suitable, being within reasonable distance of all concerned. Wo would therefore recommend that tho Board place before the Minister of Education on his visit to New Plymouth, tho advisability of'establishing a, school to serve both districts. Failing his agreeing to this course we recommend that the Board urge- the purchase of Mrs. Taylor's section to extend the grounds of the pre'sent West End School. •

Mr. Wilkinson considered that it was, a wise provision to obtain larger areas. Two acres was much too small for a school, of tho size of West End. New Plymouth was going to be a big place, and it was ' not suitable to have a school alongside a main road. The Chairman said that the report opened up a big question. The Westown papulation was growing past\ and to combine and obtain the area mentioned was in the best interests of the whole district. It was hard to say whether tho Minister would be prepared to undertake it at present. It would also overcome another difficulty as Franklyn Road School would not require to be increased. The proposed sito was easily accessible to all parts of tfie district.

Mr. Dixon said tftat this showed the wistfom of securing larger areas .wilien schools were built. He was surprised that residents of New Plymouth had so long been satisfied witli such a small area. The land could have been purchased much cheaper 20 years ago. Mr. White also favoured the proposed removal of the school. Ho pointed out that the district in the vicinity of the proposed site would in the near fu-ture-bo. thickly populated. The, report was adopted. '*

_ MOTUROA AND SPOTSWOOD. Messrs °k7 Masters and S. G. Smith reported that they had made careful enquiries regarding tho application for a school at Moturoa, and recommended that application bo made to the Department to sanction the establishment of a school at Spotswood on a. section in tho vicinity of Pioneer Road and that as a pressing need existed in the locality for a school the Department be requested to recognise a. school to be opened temporarily in the Church of England Sunday School at Moturoa. Tho report was adopted, and application will be made to the Department for tho establishment of a school on the Pioneer Eoad at Spots Wood.

VOGELTOWN' SCHOOL. A deputation comprising Messrs. A T. Moore, G. W. Browne, J. Barton and V. Griffiths waited on the Board and urged the necessity for erecting a schoolat Vogeltown. The spokesman (Mr. a. T. Moore) realised that the delay was not the fault of the Board. Ho stated that four or-live years ago, wlieii the school was first applied for, they had 70 or SB children interested. A site was procured, and a. side school was opened with 39 children. The district had since made rapid progress, and the list now contained the names of 140 children under 'lo years of age, not including 40 children from Frankleigh Park. Theso represented 01 householders and SO of the children #vero between the ages of four and five years.

;Mr.'G. W. Browne pointed out that a grant of £9lO had been made by the Department. Plans had been prepared and tenders for tho .school wero about to be called when the war broke out, and the, Depofl'tmont asked that the expenditure be held over for 12 niQnths. It had now been held over two and a-half years, and the district had been satisfied with a side school, which was now overcrowded), even the porches and sheds being occupied. 'He said that tho association would be glad to assist tho Board if possible by deputationising the Minister. Mr. Mooro pointed out that the district was growing as several properties had been cut up. I Mr. Wilkinson suggested that it might be advisable to wait until building material became cheaper rather than have a smaller school. Mr. Browne did not think the cost Would 'be much greater. Mr. Dixon thouglrt a good ease had been made out and that the application should be again sent forward. This was agreed to, and it w r as also decided that tho Vogeltown residents should also wait on tho Minister with a deputation when ho visits here.