EDUCATION BOARD

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 29, 2 February 1917, Page 8

EDUCATION BOARD

GRANTS FOR SCHOOL IMPROVE

MENTS,

The first meeting this year of the Wellington Education Board (in which is incorporated the Marlborough Education Board) "was held to-day. Those present were : —Hon. J. G. W. Aitken (chairman), Messrs. R. A. Wright, M.P., W. HZ Field, M.P., W. Allan, A. W. Hogg, T. Moss, T. Forsyth, J. Kebbell, G. T. London, E. P. Kishworth, and A. M'Kay. . Mr. H. Penny (Marlborough) telegraphed expressing regret that he was unable to be present at the meeting. ' Mr. Allan moved: "Tliat the question of proficiency examinations be considered by the board at the next meeting, with a view towards raising the age limit in country schools, or devising some other method of dealing with the matter,." Mr. Field, .in seconding the motion, said that there was no doubt the country schools were labouring under a disadvantage.' t Tile motion was carried.

A letter was received from the Education Department intimating that all children boarded out by the State were to bo regarded as " necessitous cases," as far as free school' books were concerned.

The Department wrote stating that it had authorised a grant of £600 for an addition to the Maranui School, and £466.13s as a grant for furniture for the training college. As to the Lansdowne School, the sum of £99 17s had been authorised for an open-air class* room, but tho application for a grant for a shelter'shed had been declined. ' • -

The statement of finances, after providing for tlie paysheet, showed : Buildings account, debit, £1184 3s 8d ; general account, credit, £763 9s lid; Technical account, debit, £288 15s 8d; manual account, credit, £204 lls 5d ; Secondary account, debit, £613 17s 4d ; teachers' salaries account, debit, £32 16s 9d; contractors' deposits account, credit, £41 19s. Total debit balance, 31st January, 1917, £1109 13s Id. . .