GREY MAIN SCHOOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1933, Page 2

GREY MAIN SCHOOL

SUNDAY TENNIS DISCUSSION. A meeting of the Grey Main School Committee was held last evening, there being present: Messrs R. A. Barrowman (chairman), J. Tennent, G. Herring, J. C. McDonald, H. Herring, A. V. Oliver, and the secretary, Mr AV. Scott. The Chairman referred to the death of Mr H. E. Holland, who, he said, was one of the most able and conscientious men in the Dominion. He had always been sympathetic towards school committees and education matters generally. He (the chairman) also referred to the death of Mi Frank Badger, one of the oldest pupils of the school. His sympathies had always been with the school, and whenever assistance was required, financial or otherwise, Mr Badger was always one of the first to assist, the Chairman’s motion, it was decided | that letters of condolence be forwarded to Mrs Holland and family, and Miss Badger and relatives. A deputation, consisting of Messrs H Hutchison and L. Anderson, from St. John’s Tennis Club, waited on the Committee to discuss playing hours on the school courts. Mr Anderson said the deputation wished to talk over several matters with the Committee prior to the opening of the season. The hours of play and the question of outsiders playing on the courts were the main questions. The club understood that outsiders had been given permission to play on the courts. This was not consideied a fair thing, as the club had spent £SO on them. Mr Hutchison said the Committee were breaking their agreement if they had given permission to outsiders to play there. The Chairman: Who gave outsiders permission to play? Mr Hutchison: I understand it was a member of the Committee. The Chairman said that last year the teachers and the club had been empowered to make arrangements regarding the hours of play, so that the children’s playing would not be affected. He moved that the matter be again left to the teachers and the club. Mr H. Herring said he presumed he was the Commitee member who was . responsible for outsiders playing on the courts. Two young men playing there on a Sunday had been warned off by members of St. John’s Club. He had then told them to keep on playing. While it was not perhaps right from a moral point of view to allow Sunday play on the school courts, it seemed a bit narrow when the courts just across the street were going all day. The headmaster of the school had also told the young men they could not play on Sundays, but again he (the spanker) had told them to “lire away.” The players wished to join the St. John’s Club, but the rules of the club debarred them. Again they ccuhl only play on Sundays, and the club did not countenance Sunday play. Mr G. Herring said he saw no more harm in playing on the school courts than on the .courts across the road. Mr Anderson said the club did not countenance Sunday play, and if it was granted he did not think the club would continue.

Mr Hutchison said he understood the outsiders concerned' were informed they could play on Wednesdays. Mr H. Herring said the people he told to play’ did not wish to play on Wednesdays, as they could not. lie could understand the : club’si point of view for an ordinary layman seeing Sunday play bn the court would immediately conclude that the St. John’s Club was permitting Sunday play. However, it was for the Committee to decide, one way or the other. Mr McDonald, to test the feeling of the meeting, moved that the Committee allow no Sunday play. Mr Tennent seconded the motion, which was supported by Messrs Tennent, McDonald, Fairmaid and Oliver, and carried, Messrs H. Herring, G. Herring and Scott voted against the motion, and the Chairman did not vote. Mr Anderson said he was sure the club would appreciate the action of the Committee.

Mr G. Herring asked if the Committee received any revenue from the club.

Mr Anderson said the club spent £BO improving the courts. Regarding the previous agreement tor the payment of £1 rental, Mr H. Herring said the Committee had received only one payment of the £1 agieed upon. The argument that the club should not be asked to pay as it had put a lot of money into the courts

WAS ALL BUNKUM, as the Grey and United Clubs had' to keep their courts in order and pay icnt too. The St. John’s Club was on a. very good wicket regarding rent as compared with other clubs. In reply to Mr Hutchison, the Chairman said there would be no objection to Club members using the side gate as long as it was locked after the players were finished each nisht. The Chairman said it was for the committee to decide whether the club was to pay a rental of £1 for the season or carry on as before. Mr Hutchison said the St. John’s Club was in a different position from ether clubs, as its members had only limited hours on the courts, whereas other clubs had players on their courts every day. Mr Tennent moved that the Club be charged a rental of £1 a year. Mr H. Herring moved that the rent be £5 a year, as the committee would be losing revenue on the Sunday players.

Mr Hutchison: In that case I presume the committee will spend some money on putting the courts in order.

The Chairman: This committee, Mr Hutchison, has no money to spend on tennis courts.

Mr Hutchison: Do you think it is a fair thing then Mr Chairman, that we should pay rent, and get nothing done to the courts.

Mr Fairmaid pointed out that the rental was for the use of the ground, not for the use of the actual courts. Mr G. Herring considered that the club would be getting very cheat) tennis at. £1 a year for the courts.

Mr Anderson said he thought, the Club would be quite agreeable to pay £J a year. The reason why none had been paid before was that the dub had not actually been asked, and that, in fact, they had had no money in hand at the end of the year owing to having spent it all on the courts. The motion was seconded by Mr Oliver and carried.

The Chairman said the Club would now have more standing in regard to its using the courts, as before it was there only on sufferance.

Mr H. Herring’s amendment that the rental be £5 lapsed for want of a seconder, and he was the only dis-

sentient when the motion was put to the meeting.

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE REPAIRS.

Letters were received from Mr J. Bitchener, Acting-Minister of Education, stating that Cabinet had approved a grant io cover the cost o strengthening the Main School weakened by the earthquake. The Chairman said it. was pleasing to learn that at last something hac been received to repair earthquake damage. He had seen Mr Bignell about the matter, and it had been decided, owing to the extensive nature of the work, and the fact that the children would be greatly hampered in their work were the job to be done at present, that the work be carried out during the Christmas holidays. Extra men would be put on in order to complete the work by the start 0t the new school year. Mr H. Herring said it was worJi noting that while the committee was awaiting replies after numerous representations to the authorities, i - pair work was commenced on the old manual training rooms in High bti eei, where the children were domiciled only for a small proportion of thentime. At the main school where theie were children accommodated all the time, nothing had been done, and the grant for the work had only now been made. That fact should be pointed out to the Department. The Headmaster (Mr J. Graham) reported that the roll numbers and attendances for the month were: Roll numbers —Main, boys 290, girls 248 total 538. Blaketown, boys 49, girls 39- total 88. Average attendances Main, boys 274.9; girls 234.1; total 509; Blaketown, boys 26.4; girls, »3.4, total 79.8.

SEDDON AND WATKINS MEDALS

Through the headmaster, the secretary of the Teachers’ Institute, Mr K. McNaughton forwarded the following letter regarding Seddon Medal awards: “The Executive of the Institute wishes you to bring before your committee the matter of the Seddon Medal rules. At present all candidates in the Grey districts must attend the proficiency examination at the Grey Main School This places many country children at a distinct disadvantage (1) through expense and early start of journey, (2) on account of relaxing after their own schools’ proficiency, probably a week or two earlier. We consider if the medals were awarded on the result of the proficiency examinations in the Grey district, it would be much more equitable and offer no distinct disadvantage. The proficiency examination must be a reliable test. If your Committee were to forward its views to the Public Trustee the Advisory Committee would then have reliable evidence of the requirements of the schools of the whole Grey district.” Mr Tennent suggested that the matter be referred to the Inspector of Schools.

Mr H. Herring said that if there were rules governing the Seddon Medal examination, the committee could not do a great deal. The Chairman said that formerly the winners were decided on the Junior National Scholarship, but last year the awards were made on the proficiency examination. He knew that the trustees of the fund had thoroughly thrashed the matter out, but he did not know what had been decided. Mr H. Herring said the trouble was that the proficiency examination was not held on the same day now in all parts o£ the district. To have a fair test the children would have to have the same papers, and this would necessitate having the examination on the same day throughout the district. The Chairman said he had a lengthy discussion with the Trustees some time ago, and he asked that the examination be held in some hall other than the main school, as there was an impression that the main school kiddies had a certain amount of pull over the others owing to their sitting in their own environment. He had suggested that the examination be held in a public hall. The committee could make any suggestions it chose. Mr H. Herring said the question .would never have arisen if the Junior National scholarship had not been abolished. He thought the chairman’s request that Hie examination be held in a public hull, was the best thing that could be done in the circumstances.

It was decided that the committee recommend the Trustees to conduct future examinations in a public hall.

Mr McDonald asked the committee’s co-operation in placing before parents the fact that all children, no matter if they were under school age, were entitled to free treatment at the dental clinic. The clinic committee were anxious to extend the work of the clinic as far as possible, and would appreciate the school committee’s help. All children old enough to sit in the chair would be treated. The Chairman stated that the Trusteees of the Watkins Medal Fund had decided not to present this year’s medal until next year. Owing to the exchange and the gold standard the medal if given this year would be only about one-half the value of the usual one, and it was felt that It would be better to wait until next year. The secretary said the school should get the arrangements in hand early for a concert to augment the committee’s fund.

The Chairman said that owing to the non-success of a previous concert effort at which only £5 was made, the Headmaster had suggested that the matter be held over and that later, the holding of a Paddy’s Market be considered. It would be a. poor fair or market that did not bring in £5.

The secretary moved that the committee meet the teachers, as soon as possible, to discuss the matter. They had to go into that matter solely. The time for the debentures was passed last month and though none of the debenture holders was crying out he felt in duty bound to make an effort to give back to those mon what they had loaned to the school.

The motion was seconded by Mr. McDonald and carried, the secretary to arrange the meeting.

MISSING TIMBER The Secretary read a. letter from Mr Laing of the Grey Boy Scouts, stating that in 192!) permission was given the committee to use the Scout Hall as a. schoolroom. A quantity of timber in the Hall at the time was removed by the Education Board officials to the Education Board’s property in High Street, to make room for the classes. That timber was not returned when the classes were shifted back to the school. Timber was now required for renovating the Scout Hall, and the Scouts’ organisation asked i the Committee to help them. The value t of the missing timber was £lO/7/10. I The Secretary said the story was that the timber was shifted to the J

yard, and that Mr. G. Bignell, the Board’s foreman at the time, had said that a big quantity of it was stolen. He (the speaker) told Mr. Laing that the committee could not be held responsible for the loss, as all they had done had been to rent the Hall. The Education Board removed the timber to their own property. Now the trouble was that the hall wanted renovating and there was no timber. Mr. G. Bignell had now left the district. Mr G. Herring said the matter should lie referred to the Education Board. They shifted the timber, and should be responsible for it. Mr. H. Herring: They took the timber away to make room for us —to oblige us. On the motion of Messrs G. Herring and J. Tennent it was resolved that the chairman discuss the matter with the Education Board member, Mr. H. Bignell. The secretary said the trouble w-as that the man who was in charge of the Scouts at the time, and the Board foreman at the time, had both left the district, and Mr. Laing was only picking things up here and theie. Mr H Herring: Well this will be the best “pick-up” he’ll have if he gets this.