HOUSEHOLDERS MEETING

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1330, 19 April 1922, Page 5

HOUSEHOLDERS MEETING

The annual meeting of Householder of the Alexandra School District was held in the local public School on Wednesday, 12th, about 2-1 householders were present, an apology for absence being intimated from Mr W. Noble. Mr G. Campbell was voted to the chair. The minutes of the last annual meeting having been read and confirmed, the secretary, Mr G. Hannay, submitted the committee's annual report and financial statement for year ending 31st March. ANNUAL REPORT.

la closing this year of office your committee begs to report that matters in connection with the school have run very smoothly during the past year. The district has "been free from serious epidemics, and the work of the school has been successfully carried on. The average attendance for the year ending December 31st, 1921 was 178, which was four more than 1920. The average for the quarter ending March 31st, 1922 was 188, 142 in the primary and 46 in the secondary schools department; the present roll number being 202 —156 primary and 47 secondary. The school was examined in October, and the inspector's report is one of the best that has ever been presented to a committee of this school. Your committee acknowledged this in a letter of congratulation to the headmaster and staff. In the sixth standard 15 sat for proficiency and 13 passed; one obtained a competency and one failed. For the senior iree places, of 15 candidates 13 were successful. For Public Service examination there were eight candidates of whom 3 -passed. Eot Senior National Scholarships one gained a scholarship and 2 passed. In Junior National Scholarship examinations there were 3 candidates—one gaining a scholarship and one passing. In the Teachers D examination two sat for partial D, and both passed. Miss Percy, pupil teacher, and Miss Olsen, probationer, finished their apprenticeship at end of the year. Miss B. Hesson was appointed pupil teacher in Miss Percy's place. The discrict is to be congratulated on the continued success of the High School, the attendance of which has outgrown the accommodation provided •, one class has now to he taught in a room in the new technical school. That building is now about completed and will be finished and in working order very shortly. This will greatly facilitate the work of the secondary classes, and also allow wood work and domestic science to c be taught.—One of the questions that will early engage the attention of the new committee will be one of finance in connection with the new building. The present allowance which the committee receive is altogether inadequate for the cleaning and care-taking of the new premises.—ln Decembe* .a successful concert was held for which the teachers deserve the hearty tßanks of the /householders. The amount of £34 Is was raised of which £23 was spent in school prizes. The annual break-up took place in December and was a most successful function. In addition to the prizes that were presented by the committee athletic prizes were presented by his Worship the Mayor, also some swimming prizes which weje presented by Mr Marks, president of Club. The° school library has received attention. The sum of £5 os was spent on new books, part of this being the Education Board's subsidy. There has been no money spent on asphalt work for the last two ; years, and as the yard now requires top dressing some money will require to be raised for that purpose. Your committee takes-this opportunity to point out to householders that the allowance received from the Foard for ordinary incidental expenses is so small that the greatest care and economy has to be exercised in order to make ends meet, and although repeated been made for an increase so far they have been without success. During the year the sum of £39 14s 9d was received by the committee from the Public Trust; this represented one-half interest in a property in the estate of the late Mrs M'Donald, and sold bj r Public Trustee. This sum less £2 12s 6d liability has been paid into the committee's Post Office Savings Bank accouut, making that account now £45 Is Id. The balance-sheet duly audited to 28th February is herewith presented, showing a credit balance of £22 10s Id, against £l4 lis 3d for the previous year. During the year the committee held 11 meetings, the respective attend-' ance of each committeeman being as follows.; G. Campbell 11, G-. H. Hannay 11, W. 'Noble 10, W. Bringans 9, W. Hewitt 9, E. Kitto 9, D. Mathias 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Tha financial statement showed that the year started with a credit balance of £22, received Government grant for incidental purposes .£9O, proceeds of entertainment £3l, contributions for special purposes £5, received from Public Trust half share of proceeds of sale of property in estate of the late Mrs M'Donald, less liability for half rates £37. The mam items on the expenditure side comprises fuel £l-1, cleaning £4l, repairs to school grounds £ll, school stationery £9, prizes £25, cocoa for hot lunches £2, library £5. At the end' of the financial year there was a credit balance of £G7, comprising £45 in Post Office i bank and £22 in band.

The Co&koi&n. in movin« the adoption of the report described both statements as satisfactory. T £\ie primary school was at a standstill as far as numbers attLending same was concerned. The High SchooA which tar ted with 15 pupils a few years ago had now 47, the present building being inadequate. The capitation allowance from the Government w.-.g quite insufficient to meet the ordinary incidental expenses of cleaning and other upkeep work which last year amounted to £0 more than allowed by the Government even when run on the most economical lines.

The motion for the adoption of the report was seconded by Mr Hannay and carried. GENERAL BUSINESS. A circular letter was received from the N.Z. Educational Institute setting forth the danger in the present policy of the Government reducing expendituve on Education.

The fo//owing motion moved by Mr ( W. Duncan was unanimous!/ adopted ; I—" That this meeting oi household- ' ers of the Alexandra school district i while approving of all efforts on the part of the Government to eliminate all'sources of waste and extravagance, is of the opinion that the Educational System of the Dominion should not be subjected to any curtailment or postponement oh all desirable and necessary expenditure on behalf of the education of our young people." Mr Duncan also moved the following i «solution : " That this meeting of householders of the Alexandra school district emphatically protests against the insufficient capitation grant which is not enough to cover the most economical expenditure for" the actual cost of "school maintenance." In seconding the motion Mr Black pointed out that schools placed in; a cold district like Central Otago in winter time required a heavy outlay for fuel, and some consideration should be given by the Department to the different local circumstances.—The motion which was strongly supported by Mr. W. Hewitt was carried \manimously. i ELECTION OF COMMITTEE. There being eight nominations for seven seats an election was necessary and resulted as follows, the names being placed in alphabetical order :-> W. Bringans, G. Campbell, G.Hannay, W. Hewitt, J. R. Marks, D. Mathias, T. Wilson. • * At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr,. G. Campbell was elected chairman and Mr G. Hannay I secretary. t • ~.