Eastern High School Site

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28552, 3 April 1958, Page 12

Eastern High School Site

The Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) should end the controversy over the site for a new high school to serve the eastern suburbs of Christchurch. The school is urgently needed to ease congestion at other high schools; but opposition to the site at Aranui has delayed its construction. The school cannot now be ready, as planned, for occupation next February; and, unless a firm decision is reached soon, it may not even be ready by 1960. It should not be difficult to make the decision in spite of the arguments the committees of the four primary schools east of the Avon have produced for siting the school in New Brighton, where it would serve the present population of 10,000 well. Their arguments are worthless unless there is a site available in New Brighton. The committees have based their claims on 20 acres in the southwest corner of Rawhiti Domain. This would be, as the former Minister, Mr Algie, told New Brighton residents nearly eight years ago, “ as fine a site ... as “ we could possibly wish ”, But the Christchurch City Council has already refused to part with it. It is well aware of public sentiment about encroachments on parks and reserves; and no change can reasonably be expected in its attitude. The proposal to build at Bexley should be rejected as an inadequate compromise. Mr Skoglund’s observation, after inspecting the Bexley site, that it was “ a bit “ wet at one end ”, was an understatement. At times, it is a bog; and the cost of preparation would be high. The land at Aranui has the disadvantage of being in an area zoned as light

industrial. On the other hand, it is in the middle of an area that is developing rapidly, and it might in future be a more central site than New Brighton. It has the added advantage of being available now. Indecision about the site has already delayed the construction of this school, and may prejudice an early start on another postprimary school which will soon be needed at Burnside. No further delay should be countenanced.