HUTT TALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SITE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 241, 6 July 1920, Page 5

HUTT TALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SITE

— fr——— PROTEST MEETING AT PETONE. To protest against the' action of th« Education Department in. dociding upon the Woburn Estate as the site for the proposed Hutt Valley High.School, a well-attended meeting was held in tho Petone. Council Chambers last evening. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. .M'Ewan) presided. Mr. D. M'Kenrio contended -that in the .Woburn- site 'the Education Department had broken a compact with the people. What, then, had been tho use of the conferences with the committeemen of tho Hutt Valley. He though* that tho business reflected little credit on tho authorities concerned. The Buick Estate (33 acres) could have hwn purchased far more cheaply than the Woburn 'Estate (18 acres). Tho Petone population far exceedqd that of the Hutt, and later on another school would probably bo built further up. But at present the Petone children had a right to be catered for. Ho thought that the community had been disfranchised as far as education was concerned. It had bean 6tated that there was not enough land on the Percy Estate, but what about the Victoria University College, where the grounds were, only five acres in extent, and the college built practically out of a hill? The' Percy Estate had six acres of flat, besides the hilly . portion. Ha protested chiefly against the manner in which the purchase of the Woburn site had been negotiated. A strong protest should be sent to the Minister, he th6ught. If tho Woburn site were "turned down" for educational purposes it could be used to great advantage for the erection of workers' dwellings. But as a sito for the erection of a school it was eminently unsuitable.

Mr. M'Kenzie moved the following motion':—

"That this meeting of Petono residents emphatically protests against the hasty action of the Education Department in arranging to aennire tho Wobum Rpid 6ite for the proposed 'high 6chool cite without consulting tho Potone and Hutt School Committees, or residents, or even recognising that as n. result of a special conference of the Hutt Valley School Committees, tho. Education Board supported Percy's Gardens as the nio.4t suitable si to for tho purpose of erecting u high school for tho Hutt Valley." Mr. Taylor seconded.

Mr. G. L. London had something to say about the question, his remarks being on lines similar to those of his tecent address at the Hutt. Ee said 1.0 had thought it his duty to attend 1 the meeting at the Hutt when tho question had been seriously considered. Mr. Rish worth had described the BuickTEstate as a lagoon. The speaker said he had visited the Buick site and also the Wobuni. and at the latter site ho hod found the lagoon.

Mr. Churchouso said that although ho supported Mr. M'Kenzie in his protest against the manner in which the pur chase had been effected, he favoured tiio Wobuni Estate, as he thought it the most central.

Several of those present also spoke hi. favour of the protest. The resolution was carried unanimously, and a deputation appointed to convey it to,.the Minister.PROTEST BY WEST SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The .following resolution was passed by the Petone West School Committee last night: "We strongly protest against the action of the Education Board in delecting the site for the college on the Woburn Estate against the wishes of the delegates of tho various school committees, ami ask that the whole question be reopened."