EDUCATION BOARD

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19622, 18 May 1929, Page 13

EDUCATION BOARD

COMMITTEE REPORTS. BUILDINGS AND TECHNICAL. The Canterbury Education Board met yesterday, Mr W. H. Winsor presiding. Present: Messrs W. A. Banks, G W. Armitage, E. H. Andrews, H. J. Bignell, W. Johnson, J. G. Gow, R. Wild, W. P. Spencer, and C. S. Thompson. A letter was received from Mr J. Maze, tendering his resignation as a member of the Board for reasons of health. It was decided to grant Mr Maze three months' leave of absence before accepting the resignation. The Appointments Committee reported that the Department advised that a meeting of the Council of Education would be held on June 12th, and asked for any matters for consideration. It was resolved to recomjnend thfe establishment of District High Schools at Mackenzie, and Bakaia. It was reported that the conference had definitely been fixed for May 28th30th. Mr Wild asked that Mr Andrews should take his place, and the suggestion was adopted. A petition was received from the Spotswood district objecting to consolidation with Mackenzie, and it was resolved that no further action be taken in the meantime. A deputation of residents of Waikari waited on the Appointments Committee to ask for a conveyance service from the district to the west of the school. It was resolved- that, if the district could contribute £2O per annum, a contract at lOd per head would be entered into. ! A letter was received from the De- j partment asking whether the Board had any objection to the schools of the Chatham Islands reverting to Departmental control. It was resolved to reply that the Board had no objection. Buildings Committee. The Buildings Committee presented its report. With regard to the Timaru Technical School site it stated that a-letter was received from the Department advising that additional workshop accommodation is required for the Timaru Technical College, and advising that the Timaru Technical School Board desires to acquire as.a site for the proposed extension the area on which the Education Board workshop stands. The Technical College Board suggested to the Department that if another piece of land could be procured suitable to the Board's requirements, an exchange of sites on a valuation basis might be effected. The matter was left in the hands of Messrs Gow and Maze for report. The committee of the Willowby School wrote advising that at the annual meeting of the householders it was resolved that the Board be reminded of the imperative necessity for [ remodelling and enlarging the school, i and informed that if early relief were | not forthcoming consideration would be given to the practicability of closing the school. It was decided that a copy of the committee's letter be sent to the Department accompanied by a request for prompt and sympathetic treatment of the Board's proposals. A memorandum was received from the Minister, stating that on enquiring ! into the position of affairs at Aranui, he found that the present school, with the rented buildings, and the tempor- . ary structure, provided one room for each teacher on the staff. The Minister recognised that temporary rooms were not satisfactory, and advised that when grants had been approved for cases regarded by the Board and the Department to be of sweater urgency, the claims of Aranui would be reconsidered. It was resolved that Messrs Winsor, Spencer, and Thompson be requested to make a visit of inspection, and to furnish a report. The committee of the Sydenham School wrote advising that, at the annual meeting of householders, the question of the replacement of the old wooden building was again discussed, when it was resolved to inform the Board of its promise to rebuild. It was decided to reply that action would have to .be suspended until the Government had arrived at a decision respecting reorganisation proposals. A letter was received from the committee of the West Spreydon School, i covering a petition signed by household- ' ers of the distrir-t, requesting the Board to provide additional permanent ac-com-I modation at the school. The conirmittee emphasised the objection it entertained to the infants being temporarily housed in the shelter shed and urged tha> permanent additions be erected to meet the steady increase in the roll «nnmber. It was resolved to inform . the committee that the Board was in sympathy with the views expressed, but could make no move until finality had been reached concerning the Junior High School proposals. ' It was decided to inform the Wal- | tham School Committee that if it would : provide on?-third of the cost of beating ; tile school by a low-pressure system, application would be made to the Department for a grant of a third; the remainder of the cost to be met by the Board. ) The report of the Agricultural Manual and Technical Committee was received and adopted. A memorandum was read from the I Education Department expressing its in- | ability to approve the Board's application for a grant for a new woodwork building to be erected on the school site at Kaikoura, and suggesting that the Board endeavour to make suitable arrangements with the Kaikoura County Council with regard to rent, so that the money so provided could be expended by the Council on the upkeep of the old library building. It was agreed that a letter embodying the Department's suggestion be forwarded to the Kaikoura County Council. A memorandum was read from JVlr fcs. L Fitch regarding the possibilities of technical glasses being re-established at Waimate. After some consideration it was agreed that Messrs Winsor, Banks, and Boyle visit Waimate for the purpose of addressing residents regarding the desirability for resuscitating interest in technical education. Captain Cook Memorial. A deputation, consisting of- Mr J. J. Dougall, and Dr. Charles- Chilton, was received from the Captain Cook Memorial Committee. Dr, Chilton said that a good way of forwarding the plan of the memorial would be through the school children not so mqeh* from the money p«int of view, but for the encouragement of the study of our early history. Mr Winsor assured the deputation tha* the Board would be very sympathetic with the idea. It was decided to allow the committee to approach the . children through the headmasters.