HUTT HIGH SCHOOL SITE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 120, 14 February 1920, Page 8

HUTT HIGH SCHOOL SITE

REPLIES TO CRITICISM. The following are replies (dated February 11) by Mr. D. M'Kenzic (chairman, Petone District High School) to the criticism of Mr. T. Forsyth (chairman, Wellington Education Board), and Dr. Anderson (Director of Education) of the Percy's Gardens site, which they have both declared to be unsuitable for the' erection of a, high school for the Hutt Valley.

"In answer to ' the remarks of Mr. Forsvth. chairman, Wellington Education Board, who said, 'after years of handing between the school committees of Hutt and Petono over the sito question,' I might say this is contrary to fact, as the schools in question have been of the best good feeling. Mr. Forsvth is trying to mislead the public when he savs 'that the Hutt representatives at the meeting generously waived their claims to a more central site/ as the Petone delegates insisted that tho one and only site for the Hutt Valley was the one selected by themselves. iAil this talk of Mr. Forsyth's is contraty to fact. Let; me say to him this, thnt in accordance with tho direction of tho Wellington Education Board, tho Members twice visited the Hutt Valley with a view of inspecting sites which might lie suitable for a. future high school to serve the Valley. Previous to the select committee of the board visiting the Hutt Vallev sites, a conference of all school committees of t.he Hutt Valley took place at Lower Hutt, when the question of sites was discussed. Tho Wellington Education Board was represented by Mr. T. Forsvth. its chairman. Mr. Bakewell, chief insoector, nnd Messrs. Kishworth and London, members of the Education Board. Tho local committer of the Vallev were represented. Eventually it was moved that the conference urge upon the Wellincton Education Booard'to take steps to erect a secondary college in the district, ami that tho members of the Education Board be invited to inspect several sites named and select one. The coniinit.ee of the board appointed to select the site was accompanied by the chairman and representatives of the Hutt and Petone district high schools. After careful (consideration'the committee _of the br^rd—which included its chairman. Mr. Forsyth—recommended to the full board that Percy's Gardens site was suitable in every way for the establishment of a. future High School. Altogether, five site.? were cnrefully considered. but wero rejected because of unsuitability, and accordingly the Education Enard unanimously requested the Education. Department to purchase the Percy's Gardens property. As for the Woburn site, it wns never mentioned at my conference with tho schools concerned.

','Lpt me say to him, ho has been working without consulting or protecting the people concerned. Why did ho not. look at th» Buicfc Jfctat". situated on tho border line of Hutt and Petone. with an area of 32 acres of flat, good land, for far less money than was paid for Riddiford's property of 18 acres. Personally. I nm looking forward to the visit of the Right Hon. (lie Premier, Mr. Ma«sev, to the scene of the sites, when I hope common justice will be given to the people!

"In reply to Dr. Anderson, Director of Education, I havo to say that there ore 8 acres of playinir ground space of flat land for recreative purposes at Porcv's Garden?, apart from the beautiful bill and undnlating ; land which is admirably suited for the erection of school biiiklin""- The. Director of Education says: 'The situation, under tho -•hadow of t.ho western hills, must make tho location undesirable for school purpose* in winter time.' As apainst. that opinion, I havo to say that, the sun is continuously on Percy' 6 Garden site, from surise till sunet. and proof of this assertion is that two of the largest glasshouses in the Hutt Valley are erected on the ground; Mr. Percy having placed them there for tho reason that t.her« is iilenty of sunshine in this loenjity. Tho suggested sub-war under the railway line, the Director says, would b'e costly: I have to say, in answer to that, there would lie less cost and danger entailed, and it would he a mere fraction of tho cost of the bridqre he spoke of. wherehy the Petone children would reach tho school. The question is: Who is reins to pay for the erection of the hridsro. and when will they start to built it? A« for the passing trains, the will never he heard by the school children. The Petonn Wet Primnry School, situated on the Hutt Rond, with its immense amount of traffic by rail and road, is nearer the railway than tho proposed "wlnrv school ot Percy's would be. Tho Wost School is one of the most successful in the Dominion, and the noise from the railway traffic is never heard by the teachers or children—they evidently are too intent on their work to think about noise!"