HIGH SCHOOL FOR HUTT

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 34, 10 February 1920, Page 9

HIGH SCHOOL FOR HUTT

MEETING OF PROTEST

DEPARTMENT'S ACTION CRITI-

CISED,

A large and representative meeting of Patone residents assembled in.the Court cil Chambers last evening for the purpose of protesting against the action ol the Education Department in purchasing a site on Woburn-road, Lowot Hutt, for a district high school. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) presided, and the member for the district, Mr. T. M. Wilford,

was among those present.

The Mayor explained thnt for many years the need of a high school for the liutt Valley has been recognisedl, andi the school committees in the district had been asked to select a site. After several conferences, it had been decided, that Percy's Gai'dens would nil all tho requirements.. The committees, along with' members of the Wellington Edfucation Board and representatives of the Department, had insjajcted sites on the Hutt Park, Wilford Settlement, Eastern Hutt. Wobum-road, and Percy's Gardens. It had now transpired! that the 'Education Department, in opposition to the wishes of, the residents, had selected the Wobm'ii-road site of 18 acres, ajid kept, its decision secret. The fiiat intimation given was through The Evening Post. ■• .

Mr. D. M'Kenzie, chairman of the District High School Committee, said that the Education Board had betrayed the ■ committee in keeping the matter so secret. It . had been unanimously agreed between the Hotfc and Petone committees that Percy's Gardens was.thei best site in the valley. Sir Francis Bell, Minister of Education, Dr. Anderson, Director of Eduiation, Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., and Messrs. Rislvworth and London, members of the-Wellington Education Board, had visited Percy's Gardens, and were delighted. Dr; Anderson, was adamant, and was hostile before entering the ground. Ho claimed that there was not enough playing anea. Yet 'it was pointed out there were 8 acnes of flat. Why did the Government decide on the Wobum-road site .without consulting the committee, and pay £7524 to Messrs. Riddiford Brothers for 18 acres? 1 It was a hole-and-oorner business,, and shouldl not be put nup with. Ho had received a ; telegram from the Premier, stating that he would come oat and visit the sites at the week end. Mi. M'Kenzie moved the following motion :—

9th Febrnary, 1920. That this public meeting of. the Petone citizens, emphatically protests against the action of the. Wellington education Board in'accepting without protest or without consultation with the people concerned, the site selected by the Education Department at Wo-burn-road, Lower Hutt, for a secondary school for the Hutt .Valley', .as against the more desirable site known as Percy's Gardens, which was unanimously approved by the Education Board and the whole of the educational authorities in .the Hutt Valley. And that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education be asked to receive' a deputation protesting against the Woburn-road site, and it be urged upon them the importance of acquiring the Percy's Garden site, as the one most eminently suitable for the secondary education requirements for the Hutt Valley.

Mr. John Ryle seconded the motion. In reply to the Mayor, Mr. Wilford stated that he had telegraphed to Sir Francis Bell, and received the reply that the purchase of the Woburn-road site had been completed. ■ Councillor Churchouse said that he did not think Percy's Garden a desirable site, as it was against the hills and did not get the sun. In his opinion, the Education Department had made the best selection, and the Woburn-road site would be central for.the Valley. Mr. George London, a member of the Education Board, stated that, unfortunately, he did not receive notice of the board's meeting. The letter addressed to him at Lower Hutt had been sent to Eastbourne by the post office authorities. However, he had done his utmost for the Percy's Garden site,' and had written a protest to the Department against selecting the Wobuvn-i"oad site without consulting the committees.

After further discussion, the motion was put and carried.

It' was decided that a deputation should wait on the Premier and Sir Francis Bell, to urge them to do all in their power ,to alter the site for the proposed school.