ALBANY STREET SCHOOL SITE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3842, 1 November 1927, Page 37

ALBANY STREET SCHOOL SITE.

MORE DISCUSSION AT HARBOUR BOARD. AGREEMENT AGREED ON TO BE REJECTED. If all the statements made at the Otago Harbour Board meeting on Friday evening in regard to the unsuitability of the Albany Street School site arc correct, then it would appear that it was time the people of Dunedin took a definite stand and said whether the project should be gone on with or not. Evcrymember of the Harbour Board at its meeting last night was in agreement that with the extension of the wharves southwards, the huge oil tanks in the locality, the trend of industrial activities to the north end, the vicinity of the railway line, and other factors, the Education Board would be well advised to accept the alternative site offered. Some frank confessions were made by one or two members of the Har hour Board that they had acted foolishly, in agreeing to the alternative site, and while there was an opinion here and there that the Harbour Board must honour its agreement with the Education Board, there was no disagreement of opinion thar

the new site would not be in the interests of the board, nor for that matter iu the interests of the children themselves. lhe discussion was taken in committee as the matter came before the meeting of the Standing Committee—hut the press reporters were permitted to use their discretion in reporting the discussion. One or two members took the opportunity, however, of remarking that they were speaking in committee, and of course their statements had to be passed over. The business was introduced when a letter was received from the Otago Education Board declining to accept any alternative site for the new Albany Street School. It asked that the Harbour Board should now make a survey of the site.

The Chairman pointed out that the’dispute between the Education Board and tlie Harbour Board had now been removed to the Education Department. He thought they might interview the Minister of Education and point out to him what a serious thing it was to the Harbour Board to have to give* the site the Education. Board wanted. There was another site a few yards away which would suit tba Education Board better than the one it wanted.

Mr Hayward thought the Education Board should get its eight acres. He did not want the Harbour Board to go back on its promise, but h e thought the Education Board should take another site. - Mr Anderson said that the wharves would go southwards, and the Harbour Board wanted all its land in the vicinity. There would also be more big oil tanks there. He thought the Education Board would be ill-advised to insist on the site.: He had been surprised at the caustic remarks made by Mr Wallace, chairman of the Education Board, when his board had discussed the matter. They should remember that the Harbour Board had to look after the interests of the public as a whole.

Mr Driver said that if the board had committed itself he did not see how it could get out of it. Captain M'Donald pointed out that a school site between the main highway and the railway was a most unsuitable place. There was no doubt, moreover, that the locality was going to be a large industrial centre. He agreed with the chairman that the best thing would be to send a deputation to the Minister of Education on the question. He did not think the Minister could fail to see the matter from, the point of view of the Harbour Board. Mr Loudon agreed that the Education Board could get a better site. He hoped that the Education Board would see its way yet to alter its decision. There was no doubt they wanted every inch of the land there. He was opposed to the Education Board getting the eight acres where it wanted it He thought eight acres, anyway, for the site was absurd.

Mr Cable said he thought a deputation to the Minister would not have any effect.It would be far better to get the Minister to Dunedin to view the site.

Mr Sharpe said he was only against the proposal to change the site as a matter of principle. He agreed, however, that every effort should be made to get tha department in Wellington to agree to a change of site. The Chairman said that five acres of the eight acres were freehold, and that the Harbour Board got £lOO a year for the lease of the other three acres.

Mr Munro said he would not look ,oit any accusation that the Harbour Board had not honoured its agreement with any disfavour, because it was offering tho Education Board an eminently better site. He was in c avour of the Harbour Board offering the Education Board another site, and he thought the majority of levelheaded people in the town would say some day that they had taken the right step. The (lepartment might take ‘■the site the Education Board wanted under the Public Works Act, but that remained to be seen. The Chairman referred to the advance of industrial operations iu the If*they lost much ground there the Harbour Board would have to stop its policy in regard to wharves, etc. It was in tho interests of the Harbour Board and tho children themselves that the Education Board should change its site. Mr Munro said that the Harbour Board should have some backbone. Let it take a stand.

There was a majority opinion that a resolution should be adopted rescinding the previous decision of the board. Mr Anderson then said he gave notice to move at next meeting as follows:— That in view of the changed conditions of industrial expansion within the area required by the Education Board for the new school site, the board is of opinion that if such site is adhered to it will hold up the board’s future policy of steamer accommodation and warehouses, and accordingly the resolution granting the area agreed upon be rescinded, and that another site of equal size across the canal and opposite the site granted be given, thereby safeguarding the future advancement of Dunedin.