SHOW BUILDING SITE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12622, 6 December 1926, Page 6

SHOW BUILDING SITE

WANTED BY EDUCATION BOARD “WOKE UP TOO LATE” SETTLEMENT PROBABLE A discussion has eventuated through the discovery by the clTairman of the Wellington Education Board that the site of the Wellington Winter Show Association’s proposed new building embraces a spot upon which the board had its eye for a children’s playground to adjourn a new Newtown West school, which it is proposed to build eventually. Councillor W. J. Thompson, chairman of the reserves committee of the City Council, states that there was no agreement in this direction, although the matter had been discussed some years ago. He expressed surprise that tho matter should liavo been raised in the circumstances, as a Settlement of all difficulties is almost assured.

Mr T. Forsyth, chairman of the Education Board,_first raised the question and declared that the chief reason for the board buying the adjoining site for n school was tho presence and availability of the only suitable piece of land for a playground. PART OF TOWN BELT The position from tho viewpoint of tho board is explained in the following letter, which was sent to tho Town Clerk by the secretary of the board: “Tho publication of the sketch plan showing tho lay-out of the proposed exhibition building, John street and Hutcheson road, for the Wellington Show Association reveals for the first time the intention to place the building immediately behind an area of two acres, namely, acres 907 and 900, purchased several years ago by the board to serve for a school for Newtown West. The ground was carefully examined before purchase, in company with tho then city engineer, and was also visited by the Minister, in company with members of the board. “One of the outstanding reasons for the purchase was that a considerable area of Town Belt reserve, which had been levelled, was immediately behind the acres purohased by tlie board, and, it was understood, would be available for all time as a play field for the children. In view of the fact that all its plans are laid for the establishment of suoli a school, the board wishes strongly to protest ngainpt the occupation of tho area under review by the exhibition building, and desires an opportunity of being personally heard before the reserves committee of the oouncil at its next meeting.” NOTHING DEFINITE

When asked to explain the situation, Councillor W. J. Thompson, chairman of the reserves committee of the City Council, said the matter had boon discussed by the chairman of the board some years ago, though the council was never approached in tho proper way on the matter of the land. It was suggested at that time that tho board would like the only flat piece of ground in that locality for a play area. Nothing further was said or done, however, until Mr Forsyth bad discovered —after the council had done the job—that: the site for the show building embraced this coveted piece of land. He was surprised that the chairman of the board had rushed into print over that matter, for after the council meeting last week be (Councillor Thompson) had enlightened Mr Forsyth of the position. A resolution of the council on Thursday evening provided for the lease of this particular piece of land, subject only to tho Mayor and the chairman of the board discussing the position. Yet with this knowledge, Mr Forsyth had made a public protest. He had » rsk,

tinned Councillor Thompson. It would be found that neither the council nor the Winter Show Association, would go against the board in the request, for both these bodies wished to see the children provided with adequate play areas; and it was possible that the Show Association could be persuaded to take tbeir land a little further westward of the present situation. BOARD REMISS The work accomplished in the locality oif the Terrace Gaol and in other places showed the council’s anxiety to provide play areas, and the scheme of the Winter Show Association embraced a recreation ground in that portion of tho city. The board had been very remiss in this matter, and should have approached the council in a proper manner, for it must have been known for weeks that the Show Association was to build in that locality. Instead of that they had only awakened after the job was done. He did not forsee any difficulty in having a settlement effected, and was disappointed that the matter had been made public in view of the conciliatory attitude which the council had adopted at its last meeting—an attitude which was known to the chairman of the Education Board on Friday last. “A BOMBSHELL” The chairman of the Wellington Show Association, Mr R. H. Nimmo, stated that the assertion of the chairman of the Wellington Education Board regarding the intention of the board to utilise portion of the Town Belt in the vicinity of John street for the purpose of a playground in connection with schools to be erected later has come as a distinct bombshell to those connected with the Show Association.

‘‘lnquiries made at the Town Hall,” he said, “indicate that there exists no agreement between the City Council and tlie Education Board. Whilst some years ago certain conversations may have taken place, it is incorrocfc to "suggest that the land in question is at tho disposal of the board for the purpose of a school-children’s playing ground. If tho board has spent public moneys in the acquiring of certain areas of land on the assumption, nothing more, that an. adjoining area of the Town Belt would be available as a playground, then the members of the board have not acted with that acumen which might reasonably be expected of 'them. Thoy surely had no right to merely assume anything, and have no grounds for complaint when, thoy find that those who are working in a movement for the benefit of the city have perfected their plans in ignorance that any other interests desire the en me area, particularly as these negotiations have been proceeding for some months. Had the board any rights such as suggested representations should have been made to the association or to the City Council long ago. “Tlie configuration of the environs of Wellington has forced those associated with the Winter Show movement to look for thoir ground to a portion of the Town Belt. The Winter Show executive have organised a scheme whereby the ci-y will he ultimately endowed with a magnificent playing area and buildings to tho value of £50.000, in place of tho -present unsightly piece of waste ground known as .Tam Tin Gully. In tbdftt oircrumstfinros I take strong execution to the suggestion that the ,pr:or rights of tho Education Board have in any wav been filched from them, when, in fact-, no such rights existed. If a compromise could be effected, well and good, but the Show Association earnestly desired that tho public of Wellington should bn apprised of tho facts and appreciate the value of the magnificent sell ©me for the advancement and improvement of Wellington and the endowment a f the whole of its citizens, which has recently been approved by tho City Council.”