WEST END SCHOOL SITE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1920, Page 4

WEST END SCHOOL SITE.

PROTEST BY PARENTS.

A meeting of residents of the West End School district was held in the West End gymnasium last night for the purpose of protesting against the delay on the part of the Education DeJ»ftf ment in securing a suitable site for the school.

Mr. -J. S. S. Medley, chairman of the School Committee, presided, and tlere were also present Messrs. ''P. J. H. White, chairman, S. G. Smith, M.P., and R. J. Dcare, members of the Taranaki Education Board. An apology vtos received from the Mayor, whj> wrote that nq protest could be too strong against the dallying of the Deparment With reference to the proposed site, the offer of which might be withdrawn at a,ny time.

The chairman pointed out the advantages of the proposed site, known fts Greigs', and containing si* acres, and he contrasted the unsuitability of the present site, the situation of which was dangerous to the children on account of the traffic along the South Boad. He stressed the point that it WO«jj4 bo impossible to obtain another suitable lite if this were not secured, He then moved: "That this meeting of parents of the children attending the West End School strongly urge the Government : to acquire the site now under offer' to the Education Board, and submitted by them to the Department: (1) Owing to the acknowledged unsuitability of the pic-tnt sit.; by reason of the limited area and congested and dangerous surroundings; (2) The impossibility of securing in tho locality another site suitable to the grada of school; (7) That a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Edueatbn, and that ho be .further informed that if the opportunity of securing thij site is lost none other will be available." This was seconded by Mr. J. Morey. Mi-: J, D, Solo thought that the wsolution might be made much stronger. Mr. P. ,T. H. White, explained Die steps that* had been taken by tho Bwl in regard to securing a site. He pointed out that a few weeks ago, officials of the Department; accompanied by the recently appointed Departmental architect, visited the district, and were shown over the proposed site, which the Board considered eminently suitable as regards locality, etc., for a school of the size and the grade of the West End School. However, they had received a reply from,the Dopartment to thwffect that the matter had been shelved, to which he had replied protesting, and stating that if it were a matter of fljiance'that was delaying the. purchase, payment could be arranged for the next financial year. So far he had not received a reply, due to the Minister being" absent in Gisborne. He asserted that the public must bring pressure on the Department, whose officers had agreed that some provision must ho urgently made. The Board wanted the question settled once and for all.

Mr. S. 0. Smith, M.P., pointed out that the Board had always been unanimous on the question of "the West End site, and had used their best endeavours to have tho matter settled. The Department had given no reason. for shelving the matter, because they had none, except perhaps that they were hard up. If, however, they were earnest in.their endeavour to study the interests of the children they could find thf- money. If they were dissatisfied with the price they had power to take the land under the Public Works Act. He wished to say that he did not think tho Minister of Education was responsible for the shelving of the matter, but was convinced that au official of the Department was responsible, and in the interest:, or the .TOO children of th» district, they should urge the Minister to take speedy action in the matter. The Minister, in his statement, remarked that owing to inflated prices of buildins it might be necessary to temporarily impose restrictions''as retards accommodati.oi. In other words* the children would have to suffer through the profiteering, instead of an attempt being made to deal with the profiteers. In concluding, he hoped the meeting won d not only pass a resolution, but would take other steps to bring under the notice of the Government the pressing necessity of securing this Bite. Mr. R. J. Dearc and several' other speakers strongly supported the motion, which was carried unanimously. Appreciative reference was made to the efforts of the Education Board in the matter, and tho Board was accorded a vote of thanks, as was also the chairman.

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