NEW HIGH SCHOOL SITE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28554, 7 April 1958, Page 9

NEW HIGH SCHOOL SITE

New Brighton Chairman Comments “Education is a national interest. The extensions to Rongotai airport were proceeded with in spite of hills and private residences. These were removed regardless of the sentiments of residents,’’ says Mr R. J. Stokes, chairman of a combined committee of the four New Brighton schools, in a letter to “The Press.” Mr Stokes’s letter is in answer to a leading article on the site for the new high school published in “The Press” last Thursday, which, he says, dismisses all the claims of the New Brighton residents as worthless unless a site can be obtained. “If the New Brighton residents have established the need for a post-primary school in their district, the Education Department would, no doubt, be in a strong position to acquire the necessary land where it is required,” he says. “Cr. W. J. Cowles is correct in saying that the City Council had not been approached by the New Brighton committees. The action of the Post-Primary Schools’ Council precluded such an approach as was arranged for July 22, 1957.” Mr Stokes submits that the need for a high school at New Brighton is definitely established, whereas the same cannot be said for Aranui. Although the 425 acres of reserves at New Brighton exceeded the 413 acres of Hagley Park, it was significant that the areas had not been developed. “School establishment should be the concern of parents, councils, education department officers, and the Minister. When the united demand is presented by these interested bodies, the acquisition of a site should present little difficulty,” says Mr Stokes.