THAT SCHOOL SITE!

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 63

THAT SCHOOL SITE!

ALBANY STREET DISPUTE. EARBOUR BOARD’S LATEST MOVE. Albany street and its environs have waited many long months for the new school promised so long ago by the Education Board and the Government. But the dispute about a site continues, and the project takes on more or the characteristics of a mirage every time the vexed question is brought up. The Otago Harbour Board discussed the position again last week at its monthly meeting, when a letter was read from the Education Board. This communication was in answer to a request from the Harbour Board for a conference between the two bodies with a view to coining to some agreement in regard to an alternative site. The Harbour Board is anxious that the Education Board should take another site, which is considered more suitable than the one which forms the subject of the present agreement.

The Secretary of the Education Board wrote in the following terms : “The board is of the opinion that this matter is quite settled. Both the board and the department arc satisfied with the site allotted them, and they have no desire to reopen the question. However, if your board has a definite proposal to put forward this board will be pleased to receive plan and particulars for consideration, and thereafter decide whether a conference would serve any useful purpose.” The Chairman (Mr J. M. Dickson) said members would see that the question now was whether they had any definite proposal which would appeal to the board more than the present one.

Mr Moller said that the best course for them to adopt was to negotiate for the return from the Citv Council of a part of Lake Logan. The Harbour Board would have to buy out some of the Harbour terrace residents, but he thought they should see the City Council about it, and investigate the cost of wiping out the houses. If they could get a site of the size required bv the Education Board it would be much more suitable for a school than any site on the Harbour Board land.

Mr Loudon agreed with the previous speaker. He thought the establishment of a school in the harbour area would not be in the city’s commercial interests, and it would certainly not suit the Harbour Board. The area in question should be kept for commercial purposes and for the accommodation of overseas shipping. If it were possible to secure a site on Logan Park the problem would be solved. The matter was worthy of serious ‘onsideration. They did not want to go back on their agreement with the Education Board, but it was obvious that there was no suitable site for a school in the midst of oil tanks and warehouses. Mr Larnach said the present site was most unsuitable. Besides being in a. commercial area, it was wind-swept, sub ject to the smoke nuisance, and too near the railway. He was satisfied that the Education Board would see the thing rn the right light if it was approached in a proper manner. Mr Hayward suggested that the chairman and Messrs Loudon and Cable should wait on the Education Board and acquaint that body with the facts of the position. The Chairman said the Education Board would not be prepared to accommodate a deputation that had no definite proposal to offer. He thought the deputation should rather wait on the City Council. Their board was prepared to stand a loss if it was sure it was giving the Education Board a suitable site. He asked that someone should move that a deputation should wait on the City Pouncil.

Air Campbell said he thought the City Council should be given an opportunity to go into the matter before the deputation waited upon it. Air Aloller said the board’s first step was to make sure of its own position before it sent a deputation to the City Council. It appeared that the Education Board's pound of flesh was eight acres, and it was determined to have it.

Air Cable said he was very doubtful about the City Council agreeing to return any part of Lake Logan. He had spoken to two councillors who had stated that

any deputation on such a mission might just as well stay at home and save itself

the trouble. The Chairman said he could not understand a body like the City Council placing any obstacle in the way of the erection of a school of the size proposed, that was going to provide for unborn millions, just for the sake of keeping Lake Logan for recreation purposes. Air Campbell said they could rest assured that the matter would be settled by public opinion, which would not tolerate the establishment of a school in such an unsuitable locality. He was sure the public would prefer to see a school on the site they were offering now rather than on the one on which the Education Board had determined. It was decided that. Alessrs Al’Donald, Cable. Loudon, Gow, and the chairman should form a deputation to the City Council.