ALLEGED “STEAL”

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 60, 4 December 1926, Page 8

ALLEGED “STEAL”

FROM THE EDUCATION BOARD PLAYGROUND SITE AT NEWTOWN REVEALED BY WINTER SHOW SKETCH PLAN The publication in the Press of a sketch plan of the lay-out of the proposed Winter Show buildings and grounds has caused something like consternation in at least one quarter. No one was more surprised than the chairman of the Wellington Education Board (Mr. T. Forsyth, M.P.), who at once discovered that an encroachment had been made on an educational plan at least three years old. “You will remember,” said Mr. Forsyth to a Dominion representative, “that the board has for a long time had in mind the disposal of the Newtown School site in Riddiford Street (owing to it being overcrowded, oldfashioned, and low-lying), and the erection in lieu thereof of two schools— East and West Newtown schools. The site, of the proposed .West Newtown School was acquired some time ago, and care was taken in selecting it sc that a portion of the Town Belt £ould serve as a playground for the children, which is quite a legitimate and proper use to make of the Belt. “We now find that the very block of ground on which it is proposed to erect the Winter Show building is that piece of Town Belt adjoining the site of the proposed school—the only bit of ground suitable for a playground in the locality, and the chief reason for buying the adjoining property for the school. Whilst the board does not wish to do anything to retard the progress of the citv, or to hinder the success of the Winter Show movement, we have to take the strongest exception to any action on the part of the City Council in leasing this particular area of land, and so depriving the children of Newtown of its use and benefit for all time.

“It may be said that I should have known of the Winter Show Association’s plans long ago, but I have only read of reference to the land to be occupied as ‘Jani Tin Gully.’ The area proposed to be appropriated is a good deal more than the gully, and annexes the very piece of land that we intend to use as a playground.” Following up the “discovery,” the secretary of the board (Mr. G. L. Stewart) has written the following letter to the town clerk:—

“The publication of the sketch plan showing the lay-out of the proposed exhibition building, John Street and Hutcheson Road, for the Wellington Show Association, reveals for the first time the intention to place the building immediately behind an area of two acres, namely, acres 907 and 909, purchased several years ago by the board to serve for a school for Newtown West. The ground was carefully examined before purchase, in company with the then city engineer, and was also visited by the Minister, in company with members of the board. One of the outstanding reasons for the purchase was that a considerable area of Town Belt Reserve, which had been levelled, was immediately behind the acres purchased by the board, and, it was understood, would be available for all time as a play field for the children In view of the fact that all its plans are laid for the establishment of such a school, the board wishes strongly to protest against the. occupation of the area under review by the exhibition building, and desires an opportunity of being personally heard before the reserves committee of the council at its next meeting.” . A letter on the subject has also been forwarded to the secretary of the Winter Show Association.