HIGH SCHOOL SITE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10634, 6 July 1920, Page 3

HIGH SCHOOL SITE

THE HUTT VALLEY TROUBLE

PETONE RESIDENTS HOLD MEETING OF PROTEST.

A largely-attended and influential meeting of citizens of Petone was held in tho Council Chambers last evening to consider the question of a high school sito for tho valley, and to protest against tho action of tho Education Department in purchasing a site at Lower Hutt. The .Mayor (Mr J. W. McEwan) presided. Mr McEivan said that some years ago tho district was approached by tho Education Board, at the request of the school committees, in regard to a sito most suit-able for a school' sito for Hutt and Petone. An option was obtained over 300 square feet at the rear of tho technical school at £3 per foot, but no action was taken by the Education Board, and the option lapsed. Later, the Hutt Park was visited, as it was considered there was a suitable site on tho north-west corner of the ground, but the Hutt Park Committee wanted all tho park, so that site had to bo abandoned. There was, also, talk about tho Wilford Settlement, but nothing was done.- A ’site at Percy’s Gardens was then advocated;. a conference of school committees met, and it was agreed that Percy’s Gardens was the most suitable site for a secondary school The Woburn site, which had been selected, seemed to have been acquired in a hurry, and all tho other sites were evidently considered to he unnecessary. The chairman of tho Petone High School (Mr D. McKenzie) had fought hard for secondary education, and would ask tho meeting to pass a resolution of protest. HISTORY OF NEGOTIATIONS.

Mr McKenzie, in outlining the history of .the choosing of a sito for the erection of a district high -school, said that at tho instance of the Education Board a conference of school committees was held on May 22nd, 1919, when it was unanimously decided that a secondary school was the one most suitable to the district, and was preferable to a day technical school. Subsequently, a further conference was held of representatives of the school committees and a committee representing the Education Board. The Wilford Settlement site was visited and Percy’s Gardens. In tho first instance the members of the conference went on to tho Normandale hills, and a site was pointed out at Melling and -another at tho foot of the hills on tho other side of tho valley, but each was considered to bo unsuitable. Percy’s Gardens, on the other hand, was considered an ideal site, and the best in the distinct for the purpose. So satisfied was ' the committee from the Education Board that it recommended the sito to tho 'hoard, and as a consequence, a letter was written to tho department recommending its purchase. Tho Hon. J. A. Hanan, the then Minister for Education, was asked to view the site, but aa there was a dissolution of the Cabinet shortly afterwards, Mr Hanan did not accede to tho request. The board decided emphatically, said Mr McKenzie, on Percy’s Gardens, and at a later stage of the proceedings, Sir Francis Bell (Minister for Education), Dr. Anderson (Director of Education), Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., Mr E. P. Rishworth, and tho speaker visited it. Sir Francis Bell was extremely pleased with tho site, but Dr. Anderson was hostile to it before he entered the grounds. He said there was not sufficient flat ground, but Sir Francis Bell thought there was cn.ough for the purpose fronting the railway lino. On being asked if ho would go against the wishes of the people, Dr. Anderson said ho had a say in the selection—the final say. A lot liad been said, stated Mr McKenzie, in regard to tho question, and it was admitted that officers of _ tho department had only seen tho site from a distance. If the site was not considered suitable, tho schopl committees should have been given an opportunity to select another. Instead of which, tho Woburn site was selected in a way that was regrettable. Percy’s Gardens contained 14 acres, of which, six acres woro flat. The Woburn site contained 18 acres, and a bettor one of 32 acres could have been selected for less money. Tire Woburn site was subject to fog; was damp arid totally nnsuited for a school. It had, however, . been purchased, and it could bo utilised for tho building of workers’ homes. (Applause.) The residents of tho district had been ignored, and a great injustice done thorn. It would pay parents to send their children to Wellington in preference to Lower Hutt. {Applause.) Air J. Churchouso said ho did not hold with tho way the school committoe had been treated, but ho was of opinion that tho Hutt site was tho most suitable one. A AIOTTON CARRIED.

Mr AlcKenzio then moved tho following resolution, which was carried unanimously:—“That this meeting oi Petone residents emphatically protest against the hasty action of the Education Department in arranging to acquire the AVoburn road site for tho proposed high school sito without consulting tho Petono_ and Hutt .School Committees, or residents, or even recognising that as a result of a special conference of the Hutt Ahilloy School Committees the Education Board supported Percy’s Gardens ,as the most suitable site for the purpose of erecting -a high school for the Hutt Valley, and that a deputation, representing this meeting, wait upon the Minister for Education and submit this protest for his serious consideration. SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S REQUEST. Tho following -resolution was passed by tho West School Committee (Petono), hist night;—“AA’o strongly protest against the action of tho .Education Board in selecting tho sito for the college on the Woburn sito against tho wishes of the delegates of tho various school committees hold at the Lower Hutt in June, 1919, and ask that tho whole question bo reopened.”