CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 118, 14 November 1929, Page 11

CATHOLIC EDUCATION

WELLINGTON TRUST BOARD YEAR'S SUCCESSFUL RECORD The annual meeting o£ Hie Wellington Catholic Education Trust Board was held last evening. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea presided, and there were also present Rev.Dr.' M'Eae, Rev. Father Jlahony, S.M., Messrs. Doherty, Stratford, Carroll, Cleary, Troy, Simon, and Hoskins. . The annual report and statement of accounts were presented and adopted. The receipts for the year totalled £4175 and the expenditure £1840, leaving a surplus of receipts over expenditure of £2329. This amount'has been added to the capital fund which now stands at £24,503. The inflation of the receipts for the year is due to the handsome bequest of £1604 from the estate of the late Mr. Denis Joseph M'Donald, of Wellington; £100 from the estate of the late Mr. Oliver Mewhinney, and ail anonymous donation of £100. "In its seventeenth annual report, the board records one of the most momentous years since its establishment, owing to the decision to abolish school fees and provide free "education at all the schools under its jurisdicition with effect from the beginning of the 1929 school year. The decision was the outcome of the special board meeting held on 28th November, 1928. The question was discussed from all points, and after much deliberation the members unanimously agreed to the proposal. The board felt that in the responsibility it undertook the education fund would receive a greater degree of support than it had received in the past. The confidence of the members that this, support would be forthcoming was not misplaced. Immediately the decision was announced one generous benefactor, who does not wish his identity disclosed, made a donation of £100, another £5, and by mail 'Well-wisher' sent £5. In addition a noticeable' increase in the Sunday penny collection resulted which, if maintained, will materially assist the board-to meet its added responsibility. "The' next few years will be anxious years for theboard," says the report, "and every effort must be made to husband the resources of the education fund. On no account must the capital fund be encroached upon to meet its libialities, these must be covered by the annual income from invested funds, the Sunday penny collection and the proceeds of function and collections organised for the fund each year. If the annual income is insufficient to meet the annual expenditure the deficit must be made up by special collections and functions. The Sunday penny collection £1100, exceeds the previous year's collection by £148, and is the highest recorded ' since the establishment of the•board. % "Now. that free education is available in all Catholic primary schools, the board expects aconsiderable increase in the Sunday penny collection. It is interesting to record that, since the inauguration of the board seventeen years . ago, the Sunday penny collection has reached the magnificent sum of £12,712. _ "It is pleasing to again record the continued success "of our schools, not only in giving the children a thorough grounding in their Holy Faith, but also in secular knowledge, and in regard to the latter'the reports of the Government inspectors corroborate the high standard of efficiency which is maintained under our system of Catholic education. The board fully realises that the success of the Catholic educational system, is due to the self-sacrific-ing work of the devoted Sisters and Brothers who, have charge of our schools. Without their sacrifice we .could not possibly have accomplished the great work which has been carried out during the past fifty years. Again the board wishes to place on record its gratitude and appreciation of the splendid work'carried out by the devoted Sisters and Brothers." Witli the improved position of the fund the board, decided to re-adjust the payments made to convent schools by increasing the grants as from Ist January, 1930.

The election of-officers for the cnsuiDg year resulted as follows:—Patron, his Grace Archbishop Redwood; chairman, his Grace Archbishop O'Shea; vice-chair-man, Mr. J. J. L. Burke; treasurer, Mr. B. Doherty; secretary, Mr. P. D. Hoskins; auditors, Messrs. W. H. Giles and J. Stratford; trustees, the Eev. Father Mahony, and' Messrs. Doherty and Burke. Before the meeting concluded a motion of condolence ivith the vice-chairman (Mr. Burke) in the death of his sister . (Miss Margaret Burke) was carried.