NEW SITE CHOSEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 271, 15 November 1943, Page 4

NEW SITE CHOSEN

DISABLED CENTRE

KHYBER PASS SECTION

A discussion, extending for nearly two hours, took place this morning at the meeting of the local committee of the Disabled Servicemen s Re-establishment League over the site for the proposed vocational centre in Auckland. Mr. Aithui Rosser, chairman, presided. The committee had before it several 'proposals, and ultimately decided by six votes to five, on a vacant section fronting _ khybei Pass, near the Captain Cook brcwGi'v. A site for the Auckland centre has been the subject of controversy and long silences since August o last year. The original proposal was the site of the old Parnell School, which was rejected alter protests by the R.S.A. and the Wai Amputees' Association. Two months later a site was chosen at the corner of Horopito Street and Dominion Road, and this was confirmed by Dominion officials of the league and rehabilitation officers, but no further action was taken for several months, when agitation by the amputees brought the delay into the spotlight of publicity. The result was that the War Cabinet formally approved the site and agreements for purchase with several owners were in the course of completion through the Public Works land purchase officials.

In recent weeks the local committees were completely changed after a visit by the Commissioner of Works, Mr. J. Fletcher, and the decision to-day followed inspections to a number of sections throughout the metropolitan area.

The site in Khyber Pass has not previously been considered by the different factions interested in the vocational training centre, and its selection will come as a complete surprise.