HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 618, 22 September 1909, Page 5

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

. \ ~ (From.Onr Socolal. Kcßorter.l : a ■—— —■ THE BURNING EDUCATION QUESTION. A LETTER FROM SOUTH. - 'In connection with the difference of view, at pre.wht" existing be'tween tho Petone School Committee ami;, the Wellington Education Board regarding, the appointment of teachers for Hev. A. Thomson; who charges the Minister for Education with 'having hoodwinked the' House;* has received an iutcrcstiug letter on the ,subject from the Eev.P! B. Fraser, a member'of the .Otago; Education Board, and a, distinguished educationalist.". The writer says: " .''•Wβ. are having no trouble here, over the matter.'. It was, , practically in its .entirety, my schemo of appointments that was r inserted in the iJill; but it was distinctly understood (except in tho most exceptional cases): that if the teachers were eligible for a,position at all, three or four names should go forward. This is_ the. rule with this board, and we havo never limittd the names, and havo had the utmost, satisfaction with al (the committees. Of course, the success of every Act depends on the men who administer it. It has to be worked with fairness as: well as firmness. ' The. Act undoubtedly gave tho board power to transfer a teacher from one place to another; and just 'what would constitute a transfer and an appointment would probably be a nice question to decide. I cannot say anything ..about , the merits of your dispute, not knowjng any of the facts, but you are quite warranted in strenuously guarding the right of dommitteDs (:l= ... immediately representing . the "•* parents) -to hard a real consultative voice in the "appoint ment of teachers. • li, fought- for ■ that

?r ?n ; ft : BIU ™i before Parliament, i.ue .Bill, as introduced, . undoubtedly bnept.away all the committees' rights; but it was my scheme ondorsed by the people down here,.:nnd which I sent to overy member of Kirliamont that was inserted.- The Hon./T. Mackenzie-s scheme was on the same lines' .»«yhe-,scheme :as a whole.was the'same as ,'that which I offered j and its. whole iiifoht and purpose was in the direction you say. Tho power, of. transfer was.given to .tho. board, but wo understood,-and.still rinderstandi-tliat that •was'.'for exceptional"-cases, , - aiid to provide for the. promotion of '<• back-block teachers .who might be otherwise shut out. '-.I' am glad you take a close interest in education. It-isiwoll wortlu. .while, as there, is a perpetual'• tendency ■'to allow .-it to fall into the hands, of officialdom. ... ;.... '" . .■ . : .-..., ' The ■ question will "come before the School Committees'. Association at its'inaugural-meet-ing on September 27. • • : . •'••-. - Mr; Thomson points out that tho circular to the committees in roference to attendance at.the meeting was addressed to , .chairmen of committees only, but.it was decided .to form a committees' association, not an association .composed of chairmen of committees. .

' ■-'"'■■ 'P.ETONE JTJNIOK CLTJB. _ ■;■-■'■ Inyprcsonting the second annual report of tho'rVetone'; Junior Athletic , Olub, the> com- 1 , miftee, congratulates the clnb on the ■' success • of, the past year's gatherings. '•Nine ovening ■.meetings, wore';held and''tho nominations were good for all of them. ..In addition, 1 a very successful afternooii .meeting was held, and although the'weather was;bad,, there wasn good, attendance of *'tho public,- and about ■: £6 was taken'at the .gates. . Over. 100. nominations werej'recei-red- for.the events, which' wera 'got. off.well up to time, mainly due to tho very officiont inauner in which Mr. W. J. Hardlam carried out his duties as starter. : The com--imittoe wish ;to place on record their apprccia-' tion- of the services throughout the'season "of I Messrs. Ay. J; HardJiani; (starter), W. Inglis,. .0. Uptoni D. Fraser (timekeepers), H. J. Pal,raor, A. r E6ss, .-and E. Graut (judges): 1 'The .committee desire to thank Messrs. MTSwen and -Carter, .C.'iJ. Hollard, H.. Whitehead, E! J.-,Nankivell, J. Hyde, liadford and Co., Gear Co., O. V: Ellis, Stewart, and Co., C. Cording,' Ballinger.BroS.,W. J. Hardham, J.H.-Lyn-skey, A., and T. Burt, Scott and Martindalo, > ;A.. Law, and, H. Robinson for their. donations, and-theroby assisting towards the.success of ,the afternoon' mooting. Thanks are also duo to. Messrs. H. J. Palmer and .A. Ross /for trophies., during ..the iyear, ■ the, latter supplying thei aggregate, trophy, whicli : ,was won by J. Thomson ;,.a'nd .to .Mr. T.-Green for the ..very handsome challenge'■' shield presented .'by him for annual competition, J l . Thomson being the first' to have, his .name: inscribed "on. it; The' committee is of opinion that if jnoro. of the members competed in other meetiijge the standard of. running would be raised. During the year, the club has lost the services of Messrs. J. Cairns aud F. M'Gee, both, having been transferred > from ■ Petone -Workshops. The success of the: afternoon meeting, was mainly, due to Mr.' M'Geo's offorts. -The .jirovincial championships were offered to .the club, but' the'committee'considered that they were notin. apposition to ruri tho meeting, and therefore had to. decline the honour. ■;■ . ■■'.-•

; ; '■•.'":,! ;..,;■. JOTTINGS. . .■-:!.■■:.■.,•' ; "A'secred concert and organ .recital: will be given at St. Dnvid's Church, Petone, ,on ; Monday night.by. tho organist, Mr. AV. Kennie. The: septic-:tank...being constructed by. the 'lEower-J Hutt Bonough , . Council on the .eastern -side of-the'llutt: River .has been practically finished, and the laying of. the'lo-inch outfall to-the river is.nowin hand. "•.-■■■•' ■•' ■'