Review Of Ashburton School Sites

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 19

Review Of Ashburton School Sites

A fresh start will be mad« by the Canterbury Educatior Board on discussions about a new intermediate school site and a new high school site in Ashburton. Yesterday, or the motion of an Ashburtor member (Mr C. S. Ayers), the board rescinded a resolution erf December 15, 1965, accept ing the former Hakatere (Technical) College site and buildings for an intermediate school. Mr Ayers said the earliei resolution was a convenienl solution to Ashburton prob lems but he now felt the board had accepted a “sub-standard’ intermediate school site There were two acres or which the Hakatere buildings stood and three acre of sports grounds some distance away The head and staff of an intermediate school would nevei have direct supervision ol pupils. Ashburton had a population of about 13,000 and might be a city in 20 years. The pro posed intermediate school would then be on a two-acre island amid commerce and light industry. Mr Ayers said that although he accepted the resolution at the time, he now felt the board had made a mistake. Mr D. L. Waghorn seconded the motion to rescind. When the motion was put only Mr G. L. Brown opposed it The board was then invited to consider the suggestior that the 15-acre intermediate school site it holds opposite

i the domain between Walnut ; avenue and Middle road 'should be released to the Education Department for a new high school. ! Mr A. Manning, chairman of the building committee, said this would be foolish at present The board had this site, had rejected Hakatere and could be left with none. Mr Ayers said there was some merit in the idea that the former Ashburton High School be considered for the intermediate school. He thought it would be satisfactory because commerce was unlikely to encroach on that area. “We’li have to start all over again,” said the board chairman (Mr A. S. Murray). It might be possible to put both new schools on the Middle road site. Mr Brown said the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) was justifiably irate about the number of different submissions he was receiving on Ashburton schools. It would be better for the board to keep clear at present but hold its present site. Mr Ayers said another way would be to postpone the intermediate school in the meantime. It was agreed that board officials should report at next meeting on all ideas.

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