HIGH SCHOOL IN EAST

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28435, 15 November 1957, Page 14

HIGH SCHOOL IN EAST

Site Decision Still Delayed

The Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) went personally to the Aranui-New Brighton area late yesterday afternoon to examine the competing sites for a new high school in the cast of Christchurch. “3’he situation was discussed with the New Brighton deputation again today and I promised to give the matter very thorough study and let them have a decision later,” the Minister said afterwards. On a Labour Day, soon after he first took office. Mr Algie went to New Brighton to examine the suggested Rawhiti domain site. At that time it was proposed as a new site for the New Brighton, District High School of the Can-: terbury Education Board. But the Christchurch City Council refused to renounce any of the reserve.

Not much more was heard of the proposal and the Christchurch Post-primary Schools’ Council and Education Department acquired a site and proceeded with plans for a full high school at Aranui until primary school householders’ meetings (biennially electing committees) at the three Brighton schools early this year made claims for a high school at New Brighton. The Minister asked the council to review the situation. About Juno, the Post-primary Schools’ Council issued a unanimous considered statement that the cost of developing the domain site (even if the City Council would release 20 acres) would be prohibitive and said Education Department officers concurred in this opinion, and the recommendation that the Aranui scheme should proceed. City Council consideration of the reserve question was dropped in the light of this report. The New Brighton residents’ committee sponsoring the Rawhiti project sent a deputation to the Minister in Wellington on September 4. The discussion was attended by some officers of the Post-primary Schools’ Council, who happened to be in Wellington. The Minister asked the council to review claims for the second time.

The Now Brighton deputation was received and discussion was held for two hours (in committee because quotations for clearing were to be cited) at the council's last meeting on October 22. It announced that it would be sending a statement to the Minister. Since the Aranui site was chosen years ago, the Post-primary Schools’ Council has hot publicly indicated any intention to build the high school in the east anywhere but at Aranui.