WEST END SCHOOL SITE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1919, Page 6

WEST END SCHOOL SITE.

OPPOSITION TO EXCHANGE.

At last night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council a letter was received from the Minister of lands (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie) relating to the proposed exchange of sites between the Government and the council for the purpose of providing part of Reserve T as a site for a new Bchool to replace the present West End School. The letter stated that the Rotokare Domain waa already under the control of the Borough Council, as a domain board, and that the powers given to such boards had worked satisfactorily with domains in various parts of the Dominion. Ratapihipihi was under the control of a special board. Proceeding, the letter said: —"The request which has been made to have the titles to both areas vested | in the corporation of the borough is quite against the spirit of the statutes , dealing with reserves and is, I find, opposed to the policy which has guided the Department for many years past in administering these areas. Transfer of the control of Ratapihipihi could be given, but that would not carry with It the title to the land, which remains vested in the Crown in terms of the Scenery Preservation Act, 1008." The Minister stated .that he was under the impression when the deputation waited upon him that it was the control only that was being asked for, and not the title, and he regretted he could not see his wayto approve of the proposed legislation vesting the titles to the land in the corporation. The council decided to send a copy of the letter to the Education Board, ana to state that, under the circumstances, they were not prepared to go on with the negotiations. A letter was also read from the Westown Progressive Association approving the exchange and congratulating the council on its attitude in the matter.

It was stated that a petition against the proposed exchange was in course of