WEST END SCHOOL SITE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1919, Page 5

WEST END SCHOOL SITE.

FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS LIKELY. The present position of the matter of exchange of sites between the New Plymouth Borough Council, the Education Board, and the Lands Department, for the purpose of a site for a new school fit West End, was brought before the Education Board on Wednesday by a lette from the Borough Council enclosing the reply of the Minister of Lands to the effect that he could not see his \?ay to vest the Rotolcaie Domain and the Ratapihipihi Reserve in the council for I all time, in return for 4} acres of Reserve T transferred to the Education Department. Members of the board expressed gret that the negotiations were thul brought to a standstill. Mr. Smith said the Minister was of opinion that to vest the reserves in the borough for all time was equivalent to giving them a title to the land, and he could'not consent to that. Referring to the local opposition to the exchange, Mr. Smith said he believed many of those concerned in it were under the impression that the board was getting what was really part of the Western Park Reserve, whereas the area was on the opposite side of the Cutfield Road. He considered it was a selfish thing on the part of the few cricketers in the locality to place their own pleasures before the interests of the health and education of the children of tbe west end of the town. He thought, however, that it was still possible to do something to secure a site in the locality for a new school. Mr. White also said he had good ground for believing that there was some misunderstanding as to the actual site to be exchanged at Cutfield Road. It- was ultimately resolved to refer the.whole matter for consideration and Teport to a sub-committee consisting of tbe chairman of the board, Messrs P. J. White, S. G. Smith, M.P., and 0. H. Grswiing. It was decided also to express regret to the Borough Council that the negotiations had fallen through-