THE TOWN BELT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16613, 10 December 1919, Page 5

THE TOWN BELT.

SITES FOE. SCHOOLS. WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL REAFFIRMS “HANDS-OFF” POLICY. i ! | In view of tlxe controversy which has j bron proceeding in Now Plymouth of late with respect to the West End School : silo, the following will be read with ini tcrest. I At a recent meeting of the Welling- • ton City Council Councillor Luckio i/ioved to the eifect that the council noi gotiato with the Education Department j with a view to offering; to lease to or | exchange with the department portions jof the town bolt for the erection oi j Stato schools to take tho place of those i at present situated in congested areas. Ho spoke at considerable length on the necessity of having the children of New Zealand—and as far as they were concerned, especially tho children of Wellington—educated and brought up under the best possible conditions and tho happiest and most pleasant of environments, which had such an important hearing on tho future welfare ot the young. It was necessary in the interests of tho children, and as the sites were ideal ones and were only used as “cow pastures,” ho thought the time opportune to enter into negotiations with the Education Department with the object stated. Tho poorer children of Wellington could not be educated and brought up as they' should ho unless the local bodies look some action in tho matter, and ho sincerely hoped, in the ; interests of tho children and the people, that his suggestion should he adopted. They could not put the small portion of tho town belt required to a bettor use. Councillor T. Forsyth seconded the ! motion, and endorsed the remarks ot 1 the mover. A lot had been said about I “Hands off the town belt,” but if tho ! bolt was used in tho interests of tho | children, a good public purpose would .bo served. Tile schools in the district j had not sufficient playing area and such j a proposal as had been made ■would, if carried info effect, tend to relievo the present unsatisfactory position in connection with tho schools. “A BREACH OF TRUST.” Tiio Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said he did not think tho council was to blame for the present position so far as ground for school purposes was concerned. More provision should have been made in the past—there was no doubt that the Education Department had not looked ahead as they should have done. He defended the present national system of education, and said that if, as had been suggested, local bodies were to ho entrusted with duties and responsibilities in connection with the education of tho children—then, God help some of the { children! If necessary, the Education i Board could acquire .sites adjacent to | the town belt for tho erection of .schools . | then tho belt would make a splendid j playground for tho children, but they could not got tho town belt—tho proI perty of the people—on which to mold : schools. The Education Department ( and Education Board would have to i make provision. Mr. Luke predicted that before many years had passed tho city would have a population of 250,000, and when that time came the town bolt would not be found to be too largo, j In his opinion, tho council would be committing a broach of trust if it peri milted the belt to be alienated for the I use ot the Education Department. He : would oppose the motion, j Councillor G. Frost also opposed, on grounds similar to those stated by the Mayor. He would never agree to such a proposition to dispose of the people's property. Councillor J. Hutchison said tho town belt should bo kept inviolate, and no buildings bo erected on it. It was for the people’s use. GOVERNMENT’S NEGLECT OF DUTY. Councillor L. AUKenzio said it was not tho duty of the council to provide sites for educational purposes—it was the duty ot tho Government, through the Education Boards, to do so. Apparently they had failed in that duty. The,children had tho town belt placed at their disposal, but he did not think the council should 1 supply what it was the duty of the Education .Board to provide. Councillor A. R. Atkinson said the town bolt was not for sale—for anyone’s money—and he intended to vote against the resolution. They might as well talk (it they were in London) of filching Hyde Park so as to plant schools on it. It would establish a most dangerous precedent. Other councillors spoke in opposition to the motion, which was rejected by 12 votes to 2, only Councillors Luckio and Forsyth voting in favour of it.