WEST END SCHOOL SITE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1921, Page 6

WEST END SCHOOL SITE.

VISIT OP MINISTER AWAITED. J&e chairman of the Taranaki Education Board (Mr. P. J. H. White), yesterday reported on the interview he had had recently with the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr), on the subject of tlie purchase of a site for the West End School at Belt Road, the report I assured the Minister that the board were unanimous in considering this the most urgent question before it and/ urged an early decision. The difficulty of finance was mentioned, but I stressed the point that failing some provision in that locality for West End School, the Board would be compelled to secure a site and build without delay, a new school at Westown. Finally the Minister promised to visit this district about the first week of March' and I have since seen Mr. Greig who will hold over any dealing with the property until after Mr. Parr’s visit. # The Minister is desirous that the\Board shall prepare a list of the business necessary to bring before him so that full use may be made of the time at his disposal. In substantiating his report, the chairman stressed the fact that this was the next important work in the board’s district. Mr. Parr had agreed that the first claim on the departunent should be for the provision of new schools, but taking into consideration the floor space at West End, the Minister did not think the work urgent. The Minister had promised to visit the district in tire first week of March hut, owing to the special session of Parliament called for March 10th, ail pressure should be brought to bear, so that the Minister’s promised visit should be made before that date, the price for the new site, and the chairman, was very low and the owner of the land was very public spirited over the matter. It was a most humil!at : "g position'for the board to be in, seeing that the members devoted so much of their time in the interests of education. Mr. Smith thought the Government’s difficulty was largely one of finance. He had written to the Minister on January 22nd, and on January 31st, had received a reply to the effect that the Government only allowed grants when the work was really required. The saune old argument was used that conditions in Wellington and elsewhere were as bad .as, or worse than those in Taranaki. He did not mean to infer, however, that ho was out ■ of sympathy with the Minister and it was important to ascertain if, in view of tlie special session Ln March, the Minister could tlx a definite date for his visit before Parliament opened. The chairman thought that immediate provision should *be made for the children attending the Westown school, which was at present being held in the ball. If tlie negotiations for the new site fell ilirough, there would bo a new full-staffed school at Westown, the present school at West End, and a new school at Moturoa, besides a number of smaller schools. The proposed new school at Belt would obviate this. The chairman's report was received, the members being of the opinion that nothing could- be done until the Minister's visit to New Plymouth.