SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11877, 26 April 1904, Page 10

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ELECTIONS.

WEST CHRISTCHURCH. There was only a small attendance at the householders'"meeting last night, in the West Christcliurch School. Mr C. D. Morris was chairman. The annual report expressed pleasure at the continued efficiency of tlie work of the school. There were 876' children on the roll, and the average attendance had been 734. 'The Inspectors reports had been very satisfactory, and the pupil teachers had {Kissed with credit. Reference was made to the pupils who had gained High School jseholarships, and to the oooktry classes that had been carried on during the year, also to the manual and technical instruction classes, and to the Cadet Corps.that bud been successfully formed. Reference was also made to the recent cliaii.es in the staff, and to the swimming classes. The receipts of the Committee for the ye-ir had been £214 10s Id, and the expenditure £160 14s 9d. The report and statement ni accounts were passed. The fallowing were elected the. Committee'for the year:—Messrs C. D. Morris (chairman), J. H. Jones, G. T. Chisnall. (.;. Barrell,JUT. Robson, S. McMurray, J. Sinclair,4nd Drs. and M'-orb-mse. Votes- of thanks were passed to the teachin.* staff, awl were acknowledged by the head master. Mr Foster. Mr Curlett said he would like to sell s-irip of ground set apart for teaching the art of gardening to the children. -tie thou.ht practical aid in the teaching could be obtained without any extra work being entailed on the teachers of the school. The boys could xill the --round, and he was not without hope that an occasional lesson from the head gardener of the Domain could Ik- obtained. He liad no doubt that plenty of subscriptions could be obtained from the parents to set the thing going, mid keep it goin.-. Dr. Chilton i-aid the sucsestion was a good one, and he had no doubt the Committee would keep it in view, but, at the same time, tlie idea had not been altogethfr ne.iected. A resolution" was passed, recommending the Committee to consider Mr Curlett'--.suggestion. Dr. Chilton moved—"Tliat the meeting cordially approved of the establishment of a superannuation fund for teachers." He said it was useless to go into the details of such a- scheme, which was one for experts and actuaries to consider, but tne lieeei-sity fur such a fund could not be denied, and was recognised by everybody. Mr J. 11. Jones teconded the motion, and referred at some length to the poor salaries of too many of the teachers, es-->ecially the female teachers, a large numW receiving less than £100 a year. He thought the minimum salary should be £120 for females and £150 for male teachers. The suggestion as to the minimum salaries was "added to Dr. Chilton's motion, with a. reouest to the Education Board to forward it to the Minister of Education, and the motion was carried. Mr J. H. Jones brought up the question of making West Christchurch a District High School, and (-poke on it at some length. He moved—"That the meeting -heartily approved of the effortn of the Board of Education to have Went Christchurch made a District High School, and urged the Minister of Education to grant the request, believing that it would confer a great boon on the children of Christchurch." , ~ ... Mr Curlett seconded the motion, which was carried, and a cony was ordered to be sent to the Board of Education, to be forwarded to tlie Minister. ...,_, A vote of thanks to the Committee for their past year's work was carried unaninjously.