BATTLE OF SITES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 6

BATTLE OF SITES

MIDDLE ROAD'S SCHOOL BUILDING TO DEFY A CAMERA BOARD VERY DETERMINED I Away up at Middle Road, one ol those regions where the wind is biting cold and the term “out back” seems to hang with a dismal droop from every grey-oarked tree in the neighbourhood) the battle of school sites is still going ou. it has all the tenseness about it, and the seriousness, too, of those feuds of ancient days wh«i*i Picts and Scot-* formed in warlixe. stray. In short, ho<tilities at Middle Load, so correspoudeuce says, have do> duped beyond tht» tongue-wagging stage and have come to blows. An esteemed member of that select but divided cninmuai./ alleges assault. A sadder and a wiser Education Board now sits firmly o.i its chosen pedestal. Fur tho second (or : s it tho third or fourth!; time a little area has been marked off fur Aliddle Road s School. The board has growo tired of the warring factions, of the jar site of the near, the middle and ail the othci sites and is determined that the ac <cpted site of to-day is the one and only suited to its purpose. Aliddh Road ’a building of learning is to ris< there, come what may.

But the community is still divided tud neighbourly feeling was not impioved when one section of the residents pulled down two mill weares an 1 erected a school of sorts lor themselvcs. A deputationist at yesterday’s meeting of the board, describing thi« edifice, said that he would ha.c brought •i | tograph of it, only ho was afraid to risk his camera taking it. “I can touch tho ceiling with my hand, like that,” he said, raising his arm above his head. “It is not big enough to take all the children.” Another speaker said that it was erected in a turnip paddock that had just been eaten off. Everybody knew what that would be like. Several members of the board nodded. It appears that the trouble of the moment is with regard to the temporary accommodation at. Middle Road pending the erection of the new building, ihe pulling down of whares and erection of the room in commission to-dav was prompted by residents who were not satisfied with the accommodation in use before. The chairman of the board (Mr VV. A. Collins)* acting on reports made by the architect (Mr E. R. Hodge), had authorised the removal of the scholars from their previous location to the “whare” school. This latter huiiding Mr Hodge did not think well fitted as a school, but his reports seemed to indicate that it was preferable to the old. The purpose of the deputation which came all the war to Wanganui yesterday to wait on the board was to urge vacation of the "wharn” school in favour of the original. This the board refused to do on the ground that, very soon, the district would have an adequate new building.

With expressions of regret a deputationist said that unless the change asked for was permitted he would send his children to Horopito. This prompted Mr Collins to make a plea for the district to come together. “I know you chaps will help us,” said. “You’ll all be sending your children along when you see this new scnool. Come on now, be sports It’s only a personal matter with you up there, l-orget ail about it. I know you are going to seud year children.’' A deputationist: I am sorry to say that 1 am uot. Mr Collins.• Go away and sleep on it. You 11 forget all this after you've had a talk. Get away out now and talk it over. The deputation retired after its leader had proffered thanks and regret that he could not take back to the land of Middle Road better news ‘Sleep on it,” was Mr Collins' partgef ” UStrUOt i° n . ‘ S‘ ee P on it and forWhcn the board resumed its deliberations no action was taken with regard to Middle Hoad other than to endorse tho chairman’s action in allowing the scholars to transfer to the whare ” school, and to proceed with the necessary forma! business to expedite the erection of the new building, mere was a unanimous decision to stick t b°ef t orola 8 e t. UPPrOVad ° f at ,h " Mr Collins again voiced the hope that the district would sink its differences and come together to support the new school,