WEST END SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1918, Page 4

WEST END SCHOOL.

PROPOSED SITE AT OUTFIELD ROAD, BOROUGH WILLING TO EXCHANGE LAND. At last night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, the subcommittee set up to consider the proposal of the Education Board for the ' exchange of a portion of reserve T for the West End school site, with a view to the erection of a new and up-to-date school on the former site, recommended that the council make an exchange of fiVo acres of the reserve at the corner of Gladstone and Cutfield roads for the West End School site and a portion ol the railway reserve on the foreshor« from Bayly road to Kawaroa ParkCr. Clarke, in moving the adoption of the report, said the. 'committee recognised that the site was an ideal one for a school, and that though the bofough "was giving away a portion of a reserve, tliev were giving it for the benefit of the boys and girls whe would be the men and women of the future. In doing that they were doing what they considered to be in the best interests of the borough. The site would provide for the establishment of probably the finest school in the Dominion. They should also look to the health of the children. Cr. Griffiths seconded the motion. Cr, Collis said the matter came as something of a surprise to him and he would like time to consider it more fully. There had been some difficulty in ac- ' quiring the reserve, and he was not ready to vote for parting with a portion of the reserve without the fullest consideration. Ho said the ground wag looked upon as an ideal site for a cricket ground, and if Ave acres were parted with there would be little left for such sport. He thought s (mailer area might be sufficient, and the school children, as well a« the general public, would still have the right to\the use of the rest of the reserve, i Cr. Griffiths sida that as the representatives of the people the council must also consider the interests of the chit* drcn. The committee had been unanimous in its recommendation. He thought the area of Ave acres would be all inducement to the department to build a suitable and thoroughly up-to-date school, and in that event the area was none too big to provide for sports grounds and gardens, etc., Referring to the matter of the foreshore included in the proposed exchange, be said the value was certainly an uncertain quantity, but, he had confidence that the area would be of great value in tho future.. It rested, however, largely with the people of New Plymouth themselves as to what the value of the foreshore became. Cr. Short said that if the council w&a going to part with any portion of its reserves they could not do better than exchange for educational purposes. He thought the school children Should 'b* considered before - the provision of & cricket ground. If they gave any of the reserve—and lie tliousrht. they give it—they should give the 5 acres as iiuggeßtfcd. Cr. Clarke, in replying, said the committe» would r.ot !have considered parting with the reserve for any other pur' pose than education. He stressed tho that the Western Park practically adjoined the reserve still left a large* area for sportn and recreations. Hd thought if tho council decided now to offer the,reserve th« department would probably act immediately in the matter. It was exceedingly desirable to have an lip-to-date school erected.

The motion for the adoption of ths committee's report was carried.