EMPHATIC PROTEST

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 301, 20 September 1928, Page 12

EMPHATIC PROTEST

PETONE TECHNICAL SCHOOL AREA PURCHASE OF LAND REFUSED An emphatic protest was registered by the Wellington Education Board yesterday against the refusal of the Education Department to purchase about one acre of land adjoining Petone Technical School. The purchase would give pupils at the school ..ccess to the recreation reserve of 33 acres. Mr. G. T. London said it was thought that an area at the back of the school, abou’ half an acre in extent, and an adjoining piece of half an acre, should be purchased, and the proposal showed commendable foresight on the. part of the board. Strong representations were made to the Department, together with the fact that it would give access to the recreation ground. The Department considered it unsuitable, yet claimed to know educational requirements. Was that an example of their knowledge of the educational requirements of a district? The time would come when they would have to pay thousands of pounds for land which could now be obtained at. a reasonable figure. The board was discouraged in every way by the Department. ■ saying a thing could not be done or wait and see” ' He took that opportunity of emphatically protesting at the slackness and inattention to the. reasonable, requirements of such nn important district as he represented. The board had sensed the importance of that district, and when it offered to take advantage of an opportunity of securing a splendid site at nominal'cost it seemed wicked to turn that offer down. He moved that an emphatic protest bo made to the DepartStonehouse seconded., saving there were few suitable sites ai tillable. The motion was carried. I