TURUTURU SCHOOL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 7 September 1926, Page 6

TURUTURU SCHOOL.

TO 1 BE BUILT ON GLOVER ROAD. EDUCATION BOARD DECIDES. AFTER HOUSEHOLDERS’ DISCUS SION.

. At a special meeting of the Taranaki Education Board, held: at the HaAvera racecourse, last evening, at which parents and householders likely to be affected by the erection of the proposed Turuturu school were invited, and 'did attend to the number of about 60, the site originally agreed upon—.situated several chains along the Glover Road ea,stAvard from the Waihi Road intersection, on the. education reserve —Avas adopted. The householders Avere invited to express their wishes and arguments regarding the seA'era 1 sites which had been proposed at different times, and after- a long discussion the folloAving motion was unanimously carried : ‘ ‘That this meeting of _ householders in the Turuturu district has

every confidence in the judgment of the Taranaki Education Board, and in whatever decision that the hoard arrives at in regard to a- school site.” After the deputation had withdrawn, the board carefully considered the various arguments submitted, and finally decided as follows : “After hearing the representations of the householders at furutura. and giving careful consideration to the same, the board is of the opinion that the site for a school on the Glover Hoad would best meet the

requirements of the .district.” Mr. S. G. Smith, chairman of the board, presided, and there were also present the following members :' Messrs A. Lees. R J. Deare, H. Dempsey, and the Rev'. J. L. A. Kay-11. The secretary (Mr. H. W. Insull) and architect (Mr. C. H. Moore) also attended. The chairman, in opening, said that the meeting was called for the purpose of giving the householders an opportunity of reaching, as far as possible, unanimity on the question of the site for the Turuturu school. The board had. since the inception of the agitation foi* a school, given the matter

careruL attention, nut no nas wuj to say that because some of the residents'did nofc approve of the site, the department had taken the opportunity of withholding; a grant. While the residents continued to quarrel among themselves there was little possibility of securing a school He stressed the point that no individual member was interested in the site for the school, and that as a whole the board would do its utmost in the interests of the children. He, hoped that after a final decision had been arrived at all would agree in the matter, as the hoard was anxious to ha-ve the school erected. TM-ii-i nlono tp-Ivt pli Ti nrl I’lPPll

. for the school involved an entirely new departure, and he hoped that if these , were adopted the resulting school , would contain the greatest facilities for . the children in the matter of fresh air, light, and lieat. A sketch map was , produced showing the different sites which had been suggested, and he mentioned that the site originally chosen by the board was practically equidistant from the four surrounding schools, Hawera, Tokaora, Normanby, and Tawhiti.

Mr. A K. Fyson, chairman of the commitee appointed by the householders in the'district, said that, a® far as the committee was concerned, it was content to let- the matter of the site remain with the board, a>s individual householders were naturally inclined- to

be more or less biassed. He then proposed the first motion given above, and Mr. F. G a with seconded. Mrs. Watkins said she had canvassed the district four times and had asked the individual householders their opinion on the question of site, and almost all had agreed that Glover Road

was neither suitable nor central. A site offered by Mr. Bischoffon the property in Turuturu Boad near the railway line had been thought suitable. The chairman pointed out that the offer had been officially received by the

board since August 14 last, but Mrs. Watkins said that the section had been first offered to th© committee at the first meeting held in 1923. After further objections had be?n

made by Mrs. Watkins, the chairman inquired who, in her opinion, should choose the site, and her reply Avas to the effect that file residents Avho knew the conditions and requirements best should have the opportunity of choosing the most suitable site, but she admitted that if the householders could not agree, then the board should undertake. the selection. Personally she AA'ould send her own children, to the same school as they at present attended if the neAv school Avere not suitable.

The- chairman.: “Wei 1 !, what injustice; will the new school inflict on youin children?” . Mrs Watkins maintained 1 that the Glover Rortd site was, too dangerous, at least the road crossing was j the new school .would not be central for the majority of the little children, and the proposed site was ia . very unhealthy one.

Mr Fyson pointed out- that north, along the Glover Road to the Ketemar»e Road and along this road there were between 'SO and 60 dhiildran for whom the Glover Road school would be much handier. Mr 11. Thrush said that there were, a number of children living a long distance-up the Turuturu Road to whom the building of a school on Glover ltoad would ' not proves cf much benefit. It would hb a considerable .advantage !ilf even a half-mile of the distance could be reduced. He enumerated approxiately 17 children that lived along this road.

Mrs Bischoff .explained the various proposals which had been made regarding the new railway station, and said that a new road would be cut along the line from Turuturu Road joining Glover Road near Camberwell llioad junction.

- Mi- Xi. -C. Morgan : “.OflM'ciaily, the Railway Department is not- going -tp build a new station at Turutunu.” The chairman “Are you Mr Coates?” (Laughter). . . . . “I did not .mean that offensively, but only the Minister is in a. position to say whether .a railway station will to built or not.”

Mr Morgan, proceeding, emphasized the fact that the site on, Mr Bischoff’« property would bo of oonsiideralble benefit to. the railway .settlement. where there were a number of young children.

Mr Robson said there wore going to ho extensions to the railway settlement, where there were now 22 children, and the majority of the parents did not intend to send their children to the Glover Road school.

Mr J. A. Bell said he understood that there was also the- option of a. sit© viiii Fan thorn Street, which, he thought would be still more suitable. As far as the railway settlement was concerned, the children of at least ten families would be sent to church schools.

Mr Corrigan pointed out that, there were only' .about 35 children on Tu.rutu.ru Road of some 278 living in the. district, and- if the school were built

on Turuturn Road there would still foa a number of children to cross tli© dangerous road. As far as Fa-nth am Street was concerned, thlis was not suitable, as the land l there wais absolutely flat and low-lying, and bold ai great deal of water in tbe winter time, he having found while 'digging post hole® oil Lis property that the water was within a few inches of the ground levfcl. Mr Gawiith said that a school adjacent to a big railway station was not advisable from a 'Health .point of view. Mr T. A. Reuse (suggested that the sites near the racecourse would: not be suitable in view of the fact that'there were several training stables adjacent, and the Horses were frequently passing to and from the course. As far ns Fartham Street was concerned, there 'was no water there. „ The chairman: “We have just Had it from Mr iCorrigan that it is all water.

(L-JVUiffhtoT*) • Mr H. L. Chadwick urged that an endeavour should ;be miade to make the school as equi-di.stant as possible from the surrounding, schools, so as not to seriously .affect the grading of any one of them. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. The chairman promised to giro every consideration to the arguments put before the board, and to decide upon wlliat was felt to be in tbe best interests of the children. He urged that once a decision had been arrived ftt that no further disagreements should occur, an order to facilitate the erection of the Mr Lees said -that the board- Had taken considerable interest in tlie requirements- of the distinct since first the application was put before it. It was impossible to please, everyone, and someone had to suffer hardship. There was always ’the question of tine future to be considered, as well as the -present, for the school, once established, would he expected to test many years. Other .members of tlie hoard' also spoke. On the pronosail of Mr Fyson, a Hearty vote of appreoiatiion was accorded to the hoard for tlie interest shown in the district. t ... In reply to. Mr Chadwick, the chairman started that although the department did not favour the establishment of ,a full school, the board would continue to press for this. The householders then withdrew, and after a short discussion, on the motion of the Rev. Kayll, seconded 'by Mr. empsey, the second motion given .above was carrr'ed without dissent.