LOWER HUTT YOUTH CENTRE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 271, 11 August 1943, Page 8

LOWER HUTT YOUTH CENTRE

Plan To Secure 500 Acres A scheme for the vesting of 500 acres of land in the north-eastern end of the city as a hill park, youth centre and youtn recreation area has been approved by the Lower Hutt City Council. The land is just outside the present citv boundary and is a portion of the land recently acquired by the Government from Mr. W. T. Strand. Since its acquisition by the Government, -Mr. Strand suggested its suitability as a youth centre, and sought the assistance of the churches in Lower Hutlt aml various youth organizations, with the n suit that a body representative ol all the church and youth organizations in the district waited on the city council on Monday night to ask that, provided the Government departments interested vvould approve, the area should not only be brou‘’lit within the city area but should be vested in the council for the objects ° U 'Tlie t deputation was introduced by Mr. G. L. Giesen and the speakers were the Bev J. Thomson -Macky and Mrs. J. 1. Holland Mr. Macky said that besides the eight churches all youth organizations both for boys and girls were represented. Up till now there had alwa y® culty in obtaining camping sites and such a proposal as was now outlined had been the dream of years. They were greatiy indebted to Mr. Strand for his interest in the matter. The land was eminently suitable for recreation and camp sites Ind Mr Macky said he felt sure the. Goverament would give favourable consideration to the proposal. He sUenCsteu a deputation to the Minister of Works and Housing lo ask the Government to agree to vest the land in the Lower Hutt City Council and to make provision for, say, 100 acres to be set aside for the growing of native Hora. . He also suggested that a board or committee should be set ui assist the council in .admiuistering the property, with a proviso that nothin., should be done without the approval ot th Mrs. Ul Holland stressed the need for such facilities, specially for boys and. gnls away from the influence of Gbnstian bnmeq Such a centre could become J valuable place for Lhe trainiiig °f youths in cn-onerative movements for tne vjei fare not only of the city but of the Dominion as a whole. She visualized a con ference house where youth could plan helpful work for the district and the countrThe mayor, Mr. Andrews, expressed the council’s cordial agreement with the nronosal No price, he said, was too high to pay for the right training of y °Th h e council agreed to ask the to meet a deputation and the matter was left in the bauds of the mayor to arrange. ■ -