CAPITATION TROUBLE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 130, 28 November 1929, Page 11

CAPITATION TROUBLE

HOUSEHOLDERS' PROTESTS

The following resolution was unanimously carried at a meeting of householders held in Newtown School last night:—"That this meeting of householders, after, receiving the school committees' report of receipts and expenditure declares that an allowance of »-0 a month is totally inadequate to meet the necessary expenditure amounting to about £25 monthly, and urges that the allowance be increased immediately in the interests of the health ot the children, who will suffer by inadequate heating and sanitary arrangements brought about by the drastic reduction of the allowance, which has been reduced £70 per annum within the last few years."'

' A representative meeting of householders of the Seatoun School district was held in the Seatoun School last night. Mr. P. L.. Hodge occupied the chair. The acting chairman, Rev. A. A. Armstrong, addressed tho meeting on the capitation question. He said the position was keenly felt by all primary school committees," upon whom an unfair burden had been placed, necessitating on their part a great deal of ♦ cadging" to carry on the work of the schools. Mr. R. Semple, M.P., also addressed the meeting. . The following resolution was unanimously carried:—"That this meeting of Scatoun householders strongly protests against the inadequate capitation granted to primary school committees, and heartily supports tho action taken by the School Committee Associations throughout tho Dominion in their recent request to tho Government for increased capitation. It also deplores the refusal of the Government to adequately meet the situation, and urges the associations to continue their efforts to secure the nc>}ssary finance essential to the carrying on of the work of the primary schools." ,-'.'".

Householders of the JGidgway School district, Mornihgton, met last night to discuss the question of the capitation allowances to school committees. Mr. J. M. Russell presided over a good attendance of householders. The following resolutions were passed: "That this meeting of householders of the Ridgway School district places on record its disapproval of the inadequate capitation paid to school committees, and urges on tho Government the necessity of granting an immediate increase to permit tho committees to carry out' their duties and to ensure the health and comfort of the scholars," and "That this meeting is prepared to support any united effort to place- the matter of inadequate capitation before the public and the Government."

The annual meeting of- the Northland Home and School Association was held at the Northland School on Wednesday night. There was an. attendance of over fifty members. During the year £50 was handed to the school committee to be expended in the interests of the children. At the request of the school committee, the matter of the inadequate grants to school committees was discussed. Mr. E. D. Good, chairman of the committee, and Mr. C. H. Nicholls explained the position respecting the grants for incidental, expenses, and the following resolution was carried:—'? That this meeting of householders of the Northland School district learns with regret that the Government is unable to accede to the request of the school committees for an increase in the inadequate grants at present furnished for incidental expenses of primary schools; that it is also noted that the matter will receive the consideration of the Government at the end of the financial year; and that it is the opinion of this meeting that the question as to the action, if any, which should be taken stand over until the next annual meeting of householders, when it is expected that the decision of the Government will be known."