ELMWOOD.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15263, 27 April 1915, Page 5

ELMWOOD.

Only one nomination" had been ro- • ceivod for tiie Elm wood school Comnuctoo and this, added to the interest in. tho' annual "meeting of householders. Mr Jones presided over- an attendance of fully one hundred peoplb. The annual report stated that the roll number m December. 1914, was 652, and the average attendance for the year 582. The inspectors' reports were very satisfactory, and bore testimony to the fine tone and general good control of the School. The roll number had reached the limit recognised by the Education Department, But the accommodation was still very inadequate. The committee had worked hard for three years to secure additions, to the school, and to the playground, but had been unsuccessful in its efforts. Tho financial position was very satisfactory. The report placed on record the committee's regret at the sudden, death of the late secretary and treasurer. Mr C. H. 1). Turner. • . • In moving the adoption of the report. Mr-It. S. McKenzie said that in tho matter of accommodation, the o!d committee had not been successful, and had decided to allow a new committee' to pee what they could do in the matter. They had fought hard for years, and were to-day no further forward than they wore three years ftpo. The conditions under which the children had to '■ work -were not fitted to .benefit them 'from a health or an educational point -■ of view. The winter waa coming on, and ! nearly one hundred children ha<l to ~ snend their daye in a tin shed 40ft by 20ft. Their wet overcoats were hung up on tbo walls, nnd as a store hod to'bo kept going, the temperature of that room was not conducive to the health of prowincr children. Promises had been made and broken. They nmst not blame the Education Board.- but the Department that withhold tho money. The committee, in relino>' ; -hine office, leit " a credit balance of £77 14s 2d. The members of the committee had decided ,'not to stand again, merely to act as , janitors One nomination had been received, and Mr E. F. Sandford was accordingly elected chairman, secretary, and treasurer of tho new committee. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr A. F. Carey said that the committee had taken* up the correct position, but he would be sorry to lose their services. If the Board appointed a committee it might not enjoy the tupport of tho parents. He moved: — "That tho meeting express its 6trong disapprovat of the way in which- tho school has been treated by the Department, protests emphatically against . the continued use of a temporary iron shed which is a menace to the health of tho children, and as it is impossible to erect a new building in two months, calle upon, the authorities to erect a porch at once, before the approach of sinter renders artificial heating neces-

sary, co that a place might be found for tho wet garments of the children." The motion, was carried unanimously. Mr Hindle suggested that the Education Board should be asked to appoint the old committee, but five members at ence said that they would not accept appointment. Mr Sandford eaid that he would like those members who could 6pare the time again to offer their services, and let their names, and other names, bo forwarded to the Board for appointment. Friction between committee, Board, and Department would be fatal. A motion moved by Mr Carey expressed pleasure at the work of tho committee, and resrrettcd that their repeated efforts on behalf of the scholars had not met with success. It ur?;ed the Board to appoint to the new committee as many of the old members as would stand, and to provide what was necessary in the way of land nnd buildings for the proper working of the school. The motion was carried, -md a number of namos of. those willing to act on the committee were civon. to be forwarded to thc Board of Education.