SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1921, Page 2

SCHOOL FACILITIES.

THE WESTOWN DISTRICT. MORE ACCOMMODATION WANTED. The claims of Westown for improved educational facilities .were brought under the notice of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday by a deputation from the Westown Ratepayers’ Association, Messrs. J. D. Sole and A. L. Roes. Mr. Sole said that owing to short notice the deputation had not come prepared with any figures, but the board was no doubt well acquainted with the efforts of the residents of their district, and also of West End, to get better accommodation. At Westown Hall, which was being used as a side school, there was a roll number of 56, with an average attendance of about 50. The building was not suitable for the purpose, being very draughty, but was the best that could be obtained at present. The rapid growth of the district, Mr. Sole said, also warranted further attention being given to it, the advance of the suburb had been phenomenal in the last five years. They fully appreciated the efforts of. the board, and realised that even one big school would be a very great advantage. An area of land suitable for a site could be obtained on the Maratahu estate. The association was prepared to give all possible assistance to the board towards securing a new school, and possibly something could be done, in the direction of raising funds for the purchase of a site. The foregoing remarks were supplemented by Mr. Ross, who said that the Westown school was overcrowded, and only took pupils to a certain standard. A number of children had to take the ’•bus into town and then proceed by tram to the West End school. In reply to the chairman of the board (Mr. P. J. H. White), Mr. Sole said the residents were quite prepared to forego any claim they might have in favor of a big school, and would be quite satisfied if the department acquired the site now under offer from Mr. Greig (in Belt Road). The chairman said the board as a whole were entirely in sympathy with the deputation, and were desirous of having some settlement arrived at with reference to West End. A visit from the Minister of Education was expected within the next few days, and representations on the subject would then be made. Personally he thought if it were possible to acquire a portion of land from Mr. Greig’s estate it would meet the requirements at West End for some time to come. The board would do its best, and he was sure the Minister would help as far as finances would allow. Mr. White said the board appreciated the deputation’s offer of assistance, and remarked that in his experience it was the districts which showed a desire to help themselves which made the most headway.