INDEQUATE FUNDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume L, Issue 7959, 11 April 1922, Page 3

INDEQUATE FUNDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL

‘ /-(.iaikMAN OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE VOICES PROTEST. jVt the meeting of the lauranga District High S.;l'“" 1 Ht ni' r ht the chairman (Mr 11. 1 . Andrews) read the following report /or presentation to the annual meeting of householders to be held < April -d: "The committee presents the balance sheet for the' financial year ending February ‘2B, J 922. which shows a credit balance ofVlB/2/d, The books show a slight debit balance on March 31, ' 1932. There are also liabilities amounting to about £lO. During the year the school am] grounds have"been kept in moderate repair. The school made progress, during the year and splendid results were obtained at the recent examinations vdiich reflects great credit^ on the headmaster and his staff. The secondary department shows considerable increase in attendance this year and' has now 57 pupils on the iolh The primary department lias 499 pupils - on the roll, a total of 556. Last September, tbo new infant school was officially opened by

the chairman of the Auckland Education Board ami lias proved a commodious and pleasant school for the infants. The grounds of the infant school aro in urgent need of improvement and Mr J. Blomquist has offered a tecoma hedge and ferns if the ground is prepared for 1 them, Owing to lack of funds, it has been extremely difficult to carry (

on the work. The capitation money amounts to £l7O per annum. As the cleaning costs £IOO and stationery about £SO it does not leave sufflrieut to keep the school in a proper ■ state of repair. This committee desired to carry out various improvements, but did not have the funds . to do so. During the year the committee received a special grant of £4l but the Auckland Education .Board informed the committee that it could not give any further assistance. This committee considers that the work of the school cannot be carried out with the present rev-

enue and regrets that necessary repairs were unable to bs carried out.” , ' After reading the report the Chairman stated that afljer seven years he was not seeking re-election, as the capitation money 1 ' was altogether inadequate for the proper maintenance of the school. Staff-Captain Moore commented on tho lack of funds. Owing to other engagements he would not be seeking re-election. The Chairman quoted from the Act showing how the committee s revenue was to be expended. The stationery account was about £49 . for the past year, and he could not see how that item could be reduced - seeing that the roll number was ■ 556. Asphalting should be extended in the grounds, new spouting and other necessary requirements' were not provided owing to the lack of . funds. Pupils were restricted to , one nib per pupil per month. The revenue next year would-be less by £6l than the past year. If tho Auckland Education Board increased the grant he would be prepared to continue a member of the committee, but not otherwise. Mr Withy pointed out that the lack of funds prevented the committee carrying out necessary work. Mr Christian moved : That the report as submitted, be adopted. - Seconded by Mr Burgess and carried. '

technical high school PROPOSAL. ' Hr J. P. Kalaugher, supervisor of the manual and technical branch ■ under the Auckland Education ho<jrd wrote under date April 6 as fellows: “Mr E. C. Banks, Chairman, of the Education Board, will be in Tauranga next week, probabs b'-on Thursday, He has asked me to write to tell you that no reply has been received from the Department to the Board’s application dated November 17, 1921, for permission for the people of Tauranga .to purchase ,£12,000 worth of deben- - times, the money to be devoted to the building of a technical high school.; Mr Banks will be pleased to discuss this matter further - with you ami your committee when in Tauranga next week. The posi-

'joti is somewhat altered now. The ,Govenimentwill not issue 6 per cent t'onds. They have reduced the rate interest to hi per cent. If, ■ therefore, the Government grant approval to the people of Tauranga to t a he up £12,000 worth of Government bonds the position would be 88 follows:, The 51 per cent bonds Redeemable in five years; I am informed by. Mr Creagh, Chairman of the Stock Exchange, Auckland, arc saleable at present for £94 and possibly £95. On the 120 bonds there would bo a loss of £6 each and in addition there would be a half per cent. commission; 120 discount £G on each bond, *<2o; 120 bonds, 1 per cent, discfomt, £6O; total £7BO. It would • an ’ therefore, that the sum of IhSO would require to be raised in Tauranga. The Department is bc,n S written to again, asking them to approve of the proposal to raise the money by debentures. X slrongy urge your committee to take this matter up and to use whatever means you can ill getting the proposal sanctioned. Unless immedla*e s tepa are taken there will be ! 10 Possible chance of a building beerected in time for the opening of the school year. 1923. The Secretary of the Auckland » ducation Board also wrote on the ?a me subject. he Chairman said that Mr would be in Tauranga this " e€ *b and he suggested that the committee- should inle rview him on - ' e ion 01 the technical high , iwd and the need for increased «nam>e for. (he maintenance of the