MEETINGS OF HOUSEHOLDERS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13101, 28 April 1908, Page 8

MEETINGS OF HOUSEHOLDERS.

Tho annual meetings of householders for the purpose of electing school committees for the ensuing year were hold last night. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. There was a very large attendance at the East Christchurch meeting. Mr J. S. "Williams presided. The annual report stated, inter alia, that on Auril 16th Captain Herman, chief fire inspector for tho colony, and Superintendent Smith conducted a fare inspection, and they wore well pleased by the excellent manner in which the children wero handled. They, however, condemned the structural arrangement ol tho staircases, and made soveral important suggestions, which were to be brought lorward at tho first meeting ot j the new committee. mo average at- , tendance of tho past year had beeu greatly interfered with by epidemics. Mr "John "Jamison, chairman ot tho outgoing committee, moved tho adoption ot the report, and balanco-sheet. Mr H. It. Broadhcad complained oi th*« defective ventilntion at tho school, and urged that a better system should bo adopted. . Tha motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet was carried. The following were elected members of tho new committee:—Messrs John Jamicoon. G. W. Butler, "W. C. Aitkcii, A. C. Andrews, 1). Lumsde.ii, G. \V. C. Smithson, Dr. Russell. Dr. Inghs, and 51 rs Emma "Williams. A motion recommending tho incoming committc-o to use their best endeavours to have single desks introduced into tho echoobs of tho East Christchurch district at tho earliest convenience of the Board of Education was proposed and seconded. Tno following amendment was moved: —"Ttiat this moot ing of householders of tho East Christchurch School district expresses ite approval of tho action ol tin North Canterbury Board of Education in refusing to place tho single desks in the primary schools.The amendment was seconded by ur. Air John Jamieson said that no member of the Education Board' objected to the single desk system, but the ditiicultv was that if the system were, adopted the present buildings would require enlarging, and the teaching staffs strengthening. The cost ot installing singly desks in the North Canterbury district had been worked out as allows: —Thirty-four new rooms at £310 cacti. 540; 21 additions to schools at £180 each. £3750; extra furniture for 34 rooms, £470; removal ot graded floors, £250; freight, cartage, and charges, £150; 19,-OOJ single desks at 13s each, £17,040; total, £32,830; less cost o SCO single desks now in use, £450; total cost of installing single seating, £32 386. Tho estimated cost ot installing tho dual seating instead ot the single desks was £18,129 4s. In addition to the cost of desks thero was the question of staff. Some ot the classes in the larger schools numbered seventy pupils. It would be quite impossible for one teacher to tako charge ot seventy pupils .seated at single desks with, the usual alley space in between. The amendment was put and lost, and the motion carried. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr John Jamieson was elected chairman for tho sixth time iv succes-" siou.