Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1939. AMALGAMATED SCHOOL SITE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 128, 13 March 1939, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1939. AMALGAMATED SCHOOL SITE.

It is to be hoped that the Technical High School Board of Managers will not persist in its objection to the proposed site for the new combined school because any division of opinion may result in delay in carrying into operation a scheme that is long overdue. It is difficult to understand the Board’s attitude, except as a final effort to prevent amalgamation. Of the two sites submitted the Board prefers the present High School playing ground in William Street, the argument being that the other is too far out of the town and that parents would not allow their children to attend the night classes on account of distance and the “lonely, dark road” leading to it. So far as distance is concerned the advantage of the sports area, taking the Post Office as the starting point, , is only a few chains. The contention regarding lighting might as justifiably be advanced against the Board’s preference. The relative suitability of the two areas themselves cannot be questioned. The contour of the land, with the fact that the Wakanui Stream tuns through it, though not of moment in regard to ordinary building sites, does not make the William Street area ideal for a school site. On the other hand the Racecourse road property is admirably adapted for such purpose. Finally, it provides access from all four sides, which would be a great advantage to pupils, saving many of them that extra walking which has caused members of the Technical School Board so much concern. The matter should be considered from a Broad point of view. Clearly the school cannot be erected on a central site in the Borough and even one in the plumb centre would entail travelling tor all but a very few' children, who, the members of the Board should bear in mind, might have to traverse r ill-lighted streets before reaching the main thoroughfares. The erection of the school will undoubtedly call for the provision of better lighting in the neighbourhood and the Borough Council may be relied upon to meet the need when it arises. As the town cannot expand to the south, future development will be largely in a direction that will eventually transform the racecourse area into a thickly populated district, with municipal facilities in the shape of lighting and footpaths equal, it not superior, to those at present enjoyed by the best-served portions of the Borough. As the chairman oi the Technical School Board indicated the other evening, amalgamation wilt take place eventually and a battle over the site is only causing delay which may tend to unsettle the schools witn detriment to the pupils. The great need is to • expedite the matter so that the children may as soon as can be receive instruction under the best possible conditions in order to be efficiently equipped to meet the problems of the future.