WEST END SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1920, Page 3

WEST END SCHOOL.

QUESTION OT' NEW SITE. BIG SCHEME OF EDUCATION BOARD. ,„ Tl ! 6 l ucation of a now site for the \est End School, with further proposals tor an exchange of lands between the hdur-ation Board and the New Plymouth Borough Council, was again before the Borough Council last night. I he Education Board wrote asking the Council to consent to the exchange "[subject to the approval of the Education I'epartment), of Reserve T., on Cutfleld t.oad for a portion of the Standish Estate as shown on a plan submitted. The Board stated its reason for requesting the exchange was its anxiety to remove the present Technical Co'llege and erect hostels for the students attending it on Reserve T. The proposals of the Board embodied the purchase of practically two portions of the Standish Estate, giving a site for a new West End School, and a further area of about 18 acres, comprising 4J acres of fkft land and the balance gully, the second area being offered to the Borough in exchange for Reserve T. Cr. Hill remarked that a resolution had been passed to the effect that no further negotiations should bo entered into cither for the sale or exchange of Reserve T., and he asked why there had been further negotiations. The Mayor said there had not been any negotiations. The Board had submitted this new proposal, and it was for the Council to say whether there should be any further negotiations. If the Council had passed such a resolution lie thought they should rescind it. lie would not support a resolution that had been passed by the Council if he tliongM it was not right. Personally, lie thought it was not a. question of what the Board wanted to do with the land, but whether or not the Council would get value for what it was asked to give. He thought it would be a serious tiling if any action of the Council came in the way of the, educational progress of the town. Ife referred to the fact that Stratford imd H&wera were getting modern Technical Schools erected, .ii'i'd it might happen , that New Plymouth would be relegated to a second rate town in these matters if some place was not found for a new college. Everyone knew that an area, of several acres for a college site was* not available in the centre of the town, and lie was quite sure no Technical College which did not make,provision for aoricultural classes would be worth anything in Taranaki at all events. Many of the towns in which colleges were built on .small sections were now regretting that larger areas had not,- been secured in the first place. He thought the matter should be regarded on its merits. As far as re-opening negotiations went, the previous resolution referred to the West End School, whereas the present proposal was in respect to the Technical College, so that it, was in fact a new proposition. Or. Short said lie was opposed to the exchange for any other purpose than as a site for,the West End School. His .•oimnon sense told him the site was most unsuitable for a Tcchnic.il c ( ,]. Ice It, should be in the centre, sf the town so as to serve equally tlie child.vn .if nil suburbs. Cr, Haydcn said he would voi' against the proposal unless the Council yol, an i rea of flat ground in the same vicinity. The general manager intimated that the site offered in exchange for Reserve T was a splendid place for p. publie ].aik in which an amphitheatre, could be constructed which would n.ake it second to none in the southern liemisnliere. • Cr. Parkin said there were far greater

: possibilities in the piece of land offered in exchange for Reserve T., so far as making a park was concerned, than there could ever he in the Reserve. It would beat the present Recreation Grounds hollow. The Mayor said lie only wished the reserve was at the Fitzroy end of the town instead of West End". Or. Hill raised the objection that, previously the Board had said there was no other site than Reserve T for the West Knd School, and now they had found one close by. He thought the part of the estate offered to the Council would be quite as suitable for the Technical College as Reserve T. Or. firiffiths, while speaking somewhat on the lines of Cr. Hill's remarks, thought the Council ought to Tiew the sites before coming to a decision. The Mayor remarked that the decision was a most important one, and he would like the Council to see the sites. This was agreed to and the matter was deferred till next Monday night.