Cashmere People Object To Home

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30452, 28 May 1964, Page 16

Cashmere People Object To Home

All objections to the establishment in Hackthorne road of a private boarding school for intellectually-handicapped children were based on a fear of the unknown, Mr C. M. Roper told a special meeting of the Heathcote County Council last evening.

Mr Roper was appearing for the New Zealand Trust Board for Home School for Curative Education of Intellectually Handicapped Children at a hearing by the council of argument for and against the establishing of the home at Cashmere.

Objectors, tor whom Mr J. G. Leggat appeared, are D. J. and C. I. Smith, N. G. and S. F. Craze, R. C. Hills, B. and N. Hannan, N. Hudson, E. R. Williams, A. J. Bruges, M. Baker, A. Williamson, E. Fulton, R.. E. W.. and E. M Simes, E. C. Thompson, R. J. Rowe, A. S. and E. M. Kirk, L. R. Lohrey, E. H. and R. R. Maddren, C. D. Scott, E. O. Lenz, W. H. Gendall, D. W. Jowett, W. an M. Ahifield, D. M. Clephane, E. C. and M. M. Hale, C. F. Billcliff and J. M. and B. J. Bunt. Mr R. A. Young acted as legal adviser to the council, which sat as a tribunal under a 1957 amendment to the Town and Country Planning Act, 1953. It is believed that last evening’s meeting was the first of its type in New Zealand. 60 Attend Meeting Only three of the numerous witnesses were heard and the hearing was adjourned until 7 p.m. next Wednesday. About 60 persons attended the meeting, which was held in the Masonic Hall, Cashmere. Claiming that the objections were based on a fear of the unknown, Mr Roper said the board hoped to dispel this belief. There appeared to be four reasons for objecting, he said. These were that the home would be nothing more than a mental institution; that normal children in the area would be adversely affected; the possibility of the home’s children causing mischief; and the adverse effect on property values.

Mr Roper emphasised that intellectually - handicapped children were not insane. “They are backward and slow to learn, but they are not insane and most certainly not dangerous,” he said. Arthur Gerrit Van Asch, of Rangiora, said he was a member of the trust board and chairman of the Canterbury committee which had been formed to assist the board in the district.

Long Questioning

During two hours of questioning, Mr Van Asch said he was confident that the home would cause no difficulties. The staff would exercise strict control.

The purchase price of the property was £6OOO but he estimated that the value was £12,000 to £15,000.

Mr Leggat: Then your board is in fact receiving a gift of about £8000? The witness: Yes.

Mr Leggat: Then is it not fair to say that this was a dominating factor in your wanting to establish the home on Cashmere?

Mr Van Asch replied that the board was more impressed by the situation and condition of the property. To Cr. C. M. A. Thompson. Mr Van Asch said there was

no comparison between the board’s homes and private schools. Children would be accepted, he said, at the fee parents were able to pay. Evidence was also given by Lewis Edward Harris, of Napier, chairman of the trust board. If the application was declined, the board's work in Canterbury would be set back for a number of years, he said.

Marjorie Henrietta Mary Allen, principal of the Hohepa Home school near Napier, gave evidence about the mental ability of the children and outlined a typical day’s programme in her school. The hearing adjourned shortly after 11 p.m.