WEST END SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1920, Page 5

WEST END SCHOOL.

TROUBLE OVER SITE QUESTION. MORE DEPARTMENTAL DELAY. STRONG PROTEST BY BOARD. For several years past efforts have been made by the Taranaki Education Board, and those interested in the welfare of the children of the district to secure a site in a suitable locality on which to erect a school adequate for the growing districts of West End and Westown, and at the same time do away with the present West End site, which is generally recognised as unsuitable, and insanitary. Considerable difficulty lias been experienced in obtaining a suitable site, but ultimately'a site was placed under offer to the Department, ivhich it was considered would be eminently suitable, and in view of file remarks made by the Minister of Education when he visited the site, it was expected some finality would be reached soon. The Minister had said that in his opinion conditions of the playing area were among the most disreputable they had in New Zealand, and that if they were able to point out a suitable site the Deparment would try it, and they could go ahead.

Something like a bombshell was exploded early this week, when a letter was received from the Director of Education, stating that with reference to the Board's proposals to"secure the property as a site for the West End School, he was directed to -inform the Board that the matter must sand over for the present. This letter formed the subject of some strong remarks at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board.

Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., stressed the point that the Board's efforts to do something in this connection extended over a long period. Mr. Spencer could not say that he was not au fait with the whole position. He knew the difficulties that the Board had been faced with in its endeavours to secure a suitable site. He would take it that Mr. Spencer would acknowledge that ther* was a pressing necessity for improving the conditions of the chilflren attending the West End School. In fact, he did not think there was any official or Minister that had visited the school during recent years, but would acknowledge the necessity of some improvements, where there was an attendance of over 500 children, with a playing area of a little more than a quarter of an acre. After fighting for several years a site had now been placed under offer, which he considered, was eminently suitable and was the last chance of securing a suitable site. He considered that there was no reason given for holding over the securing of the site or of asking the vendor to hold open the offer indefinitely. The matter was so urgent that the Board should make a strong protest to the Minister and urge that a definite decision be given. The chairman had wired the Minister, and as member for the ward and for the district, Mr. Smith had also wired the! Minister, and had received a reply stating that the Minister was at present on his way up the East Coast, but would have the papers sent to Auckland and look into the matter on arrival there in a few days' time. "Surely," continued Mr. Smith, "if the Minister had given a reply a few days ago, there should be no necessity to look into the matter again." Personally, Mr. Smith was of opinion that the Minister had not replied to the matter, but that it was another case of where a departmental officer was not alive to the necessity of the position and did not take the serious view it re-1 quired. He would like the Board to pass a resolution urging the Department to settle the question of the new site very definitely at the present time, as the delay was unfair to everyone concerned. Surely, >he said, Mr. Spencer would not say that the matter was not an urgent one. If he could say so, he should say so at once, and that the Minister was not going to do anything for West End, and then they would know where they stood. The chairman stated that he was keenly disappointed with the reply, which was of a nature that he had not expected, especially in view of the fact that he had discussed the matter with Mr. Spencer as recently as last week. Mr White felt, sure that they had the sympathy of the Minister, as evidenced by Ultimately, he said, the Boiird had fixed upon a site in a central pos'tion that would fill oil the requirements of a school of 'he s| Zl , it was amfidfi'itly hoped West End would be in lii'- rear future. It wn< * l >'> policy of the IVuurtment to centralis,- their schools with a view to specialising instudy as fat aa possible. Peusninliv. the speaker thought this site had solved 4h* difficulty, He ««!UMUr«d tli« prit*

asked was reasonable, though the De* partinent had not expressed tin opinion in that direction. He had at once wired* the Minister, pointing out the urgency, of the matter an,d stating that if iiuauce were, the difficulty, he could ari , range «o that the money need not m paid until the next financial year inApril Mr. Deare said that it was imperative that the Board should do something. The growing districts of West End, and Westown required a school adequate to their needs. The only sice available was the one under offer, and tliey must not lose this opportunity. He tiien moved that the action of Mr. Smith and the chairman in connection with the purchase of a site at West Juid be confirmed, and that the thanks of the Board be extended to them for their efforts in the matter. This was seconded by Mr, R. MntlTß, ; M.P., and carried. i Mr. Masters said that the matter wts one of extreme importance to the ' children of New Plymouth. He expressed surprise at the reply, which he felt suro did not represent the incuts of the Minister of Education, Mr. Rarr, when here, said that while going tli rough the Dominion there had been brought to his notice mistakes made la the past through not purchasing suitable sites when opportunity offered, with the result that they were faced with a huge expenditure of money oh account of this want of foresight, and he was not going to have to bear similar blame as far as he could avoid it. They had pointed out to the Minister the needs of New Plymouth, including the West End, and he had said that B they were able to secure the offer of a suitable site he would favorably consider purchasing it. They had don* so. Mr. Smith then moved that the Boartl enters a strong protest agnhttt the decision of the Department to hold ov<r in the meantime the question of acquiring a new site for the West ErU : School, and that the Board unanimous!* requests the lion. Minister of Education to give this important matter hie earljf and favorable consideration in view ot the fact that if this opportunity to ao» ouire tlse only suitable site is lost, a grave injustice ivill be inflicted on th» children of the West End Setiooi district. This was seconded by Mr. Trimblt and carried.