MOUNT COOK SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 18, 21 January 1921, Page 8

MOUNT COOK SCHOOL

DECISION AS TO SITE.

Asked to-day as to the matter of thel new S.O. is school to take the place and consolida/te- tho three existing schools at Mount Cook, the Minister for Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) stated that negotiations were proceeding quite satisfactorily. The ■ Education Board's proposal to acquire a new. site involved the ultimate demolition of some twenty cottage properties . Naturally one didi not like to sanction this. Apart from tho very heavy expense, it would bo a serious thing to turn some twenty families out of their homes at this time. Mr. Parr said he had considered three different -schemes. They had been submitted ■to Cabinet, and since the holidays a decision had been jcome to. The new site will be nearly 3£ acres in extent, and will bs absolutely level. He suggests that it would be advisable to erect a two-story building where land is so scarce, 1' and thereby leave as large an area as possible for playground. Mr. Parr mentioned that in securing the site material assistance had/ Been given by the Defence Department, which was granted pa.rt of the land and receiving education land elsewhere in compensation. . "The Education Board has been informed to-day that Cabinet has made a grant which will enable the purchase of the remainder of the- land necessary. I cannot give .further particulars because it might easily prejudice the board in the difficult and somewhat delicate negotiations which it is at present conducting. The board has power to take the land under the Public Works Act, iiiling satisfactory arrangements being made with the owner."