SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1928, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

The school committees of early days included as chairmen the late Thomas Rose and AVilliam H. Stone, and Robert AL Stewart; the latter still resides at Coal Creek. Air election then was an occasion for some excitement. The Act would invariably be read and re-read, to make sure everythin# was quite proper. Teachers’ salaries were paid by' chairmen of school committees, and holidays were granted provided they were statutory. Inspectors’ reports on schools were published in the local papers, and comparisons were made of similarly-sized schools. Time has brought many changes, and school work to-day is specialised. Technical education is recognised as a separate institution, with specially-equipped buildings. Those with particularly long records as committeemen of later years were Alessrs AV. Williams, L. I). Williams, and Alf. Harrison (sen.). School committees to-day have practically no power; their main sphere seems to be the care of the health of the children. Elections lack interest, though ladies ard recognised as an acquisition to a school committee, and are rendering valuable service. The present committee comprise: Alessrs J. Mead (chairman), A. G. Gunn (secre-tary-treasurer), F. Rowe, Scorgie, A. J. Turley, Alesdames F. Eggleton, C, Sexton and T. Gilmour.