HOUSEHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1938, Page 12

HOUSEHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

GREY MAIN SCHOOL. IMPROVED FINANCIAL POSITION Householders’ meetings for the purpose of electing school committees, were held throughout the district, last evening, but in most cases the public displayed apathy, all of the attendances being small, while in several causes the meetings lapsed. In contrast to the previous l occasion, little interest was taken in the: meeting at the Grey Main School, only about a dozen householders being- present. Members of the retiring Com-mitte-e present were Messrs A. E. Morgan (Chairman), N. V. Ellery, G. Batty, G. Herring, 11. Herring, M. K B. Sheard and L. Patterson. The Headmaster (Mr J. Graham) and several members of the teaching staff were also in. attendance. An apology for absence was received from Mr W. Williams (a. member of the Committee). Mr Morgan was voted to the chair.

The annual report, as previously’ published in the “Star” was adopted. Mr H Herring presented: the following statement of accounts, for the year ended February 28, 1938: —

Receipts: Balance as at March 1, 1937: d&65/18/5; Education Boaro grants for incidental expenses, £4ll 14/6; donations £10; refund tax 10/-. Total £4BB/2/11.' ' ' " : Payments: Cleaning and sanitary service, £212/3/10; fuel and lighting £B4/4/3; repairs and improvements £2B/16/2; books and stationery etc., £3B/5/4; expenses of committee (postage etc.), £B/14/2; general payments £B/13/5; subscription School Committees' Association £3/2/-: boxing class £1; credit balance in, bank. £94/2/1; total £4BB/2/11. Accounts dye to committee; Old subsidy due from Department, £llB/16/10; unpaid accounts, nil. Mr A. H. Paterson: Does that mean that the debt of £6O existing when the old committee went out has been paid off, as well as the £BO debentures? The Chairman: Yes, the debt has been liquidated, all the debentures have been lifted, and £94 is oui credit balance. In reply to a question regarding the amount shown as subsidy due, Mr H. Herring said that, they had been let down badly by the Canterbury Education Board over the matter. In the interim between the Canterbury’ Education Board forwarding the claim for the subsidy to the Department (on money raised by the Golden Jubilee celebrations), subsidies were wiped out by the Government, and although they had received all sorts of assurances from three different. Ministers of Education, they were no further ahead. There had been no such subsidies paid for about four years. While dealing with the financial, statement, continued Mr Herring, he might mention that the financial position of the Committee was now very healthy. Some, might wonder how that could be when the previous Committee was so much in debt, but the receipts for the past three years would explain it. In 1935-36, the previous Committee, received £222 from the Education Board and a donation of £l. The following year, the then 1 new Committee received £332/18/6 from the Education Board and also £4/1/6 from a ball and £2O from the Home and School Association. Last year, they had received £4ll/14/6 from the Board, £5 from the Home and School Association and £5 as a donation from a debenture holder. They could thus see that the Education Board’s grants had increased by £llO the first year and by £l9O the second year. He hoped the country would continue in such a state as at present, to enable the grants to continue on the same level. Mr Sheard; A committee has been running dances in the United Pavilion for some months: how much has it contributed towards liquidating the debt? The Chairman said that £4O had been received from the old pupils’ social committee.

I The financial statement was adopted, on the motion of Messrs L. Patperson and A. 11. Paterson. i ELECTION OF COMMITTEE The chairman said that six members of the retiring committee , had consented to offer their services again, which left three vacancies, the six being considered duly elected. He would ask for three nominations, which had to be made with the unanimous agreement of the meeting, and would formally move that three verbal nominations be accepted to fill the vacancies. The motion was seconded by Mr. 11. Herring and carried unanimously. Messrs. R. J. Logan, C. Shapcott and H. Smith were nominated by Messrs. A. H. Paterson and G. Herring, and were elected to fill the vacancies, unopposed. The retiring members re-elected were Messrs. A. E. Morgan, G. Batty, L. Patterson, M. K. B. Shea rd, W. Williams and N. V. Ellery. Retiring members who did not offer themselves for re-election were Messrs. G. Herring, C. Hoskin and H. Herring. Mr. Paterson asked how much was in hand towards the building of an assembly hall. Mr. Morgan said that at present they had £5O, but they would have to have at least a third of the cost before they could negotiate with the Minister of Education. Mr. Paterson moved that “a subcommittee, consisting of two representatives from the Committee, two from the Home and School Association, two from the Social Committee and the Headmaster, be set up to go into the question of the hall, dimensions, plans etc. When they had that, data, he said, the.v could go ahead and raise the money.

The motion was seconded by Mr Batty, and carried.

Mr. Morgan said he felt sure that, with the co-operation of all interested , in the school they could quickly amass sufficient funds to commence I negotiations with the Minister who, he felt sure, would give them every consideration. Technical School's could obtain two-thirds of the cost of | a Hall, and he failed to see why pri- | mary schools should not get the same, j He hoped that within two years the assembly hall would be on the way, . as it would be an asset to the school and a constant source of revenue. He was glad that the resolution had been passed, as they had to have something concrete to go on. Mr. H. Herring said that at the last meeting of the Committee it had been . decided to recommend to the incom--1 ing Committee to erect a new bicycle shed. He would like to see the subcommittee keep in touch with the

Committee, a,nd, if necessary, help them, out with the erection of the shed. At present it was common on a wet day to see 40 to 50 bicycles out in tire rain, which was not in the best interests of the children. The material for the shed would cost £27. Mi*. Paterson: Could it not be done out of the £94 balance? Mr. Herring; That is for the new Committee to say. Mr. Morgan said if it had not been for the ground improvements, he felt sure that the shed would have been built long ago, as it was urgently needed. The Education Board had promised that it would supply the labour. COMMITTEE AND TEACHERS Mr. 11. Herring said that he would like to ask the Headmaster a question; “Was the recent, sports meeting Dominion-wide?” Mr. Graham said that similar gatherings were held throughout the Dominion, controlled by the teachers. Mr. Herring' said that the reason why he had brought it up was that none of the members of the Committee knew of the school being closed for the sports, and it was not very nice for them to get a ring on the 'phone and not being able to say whether the school was open or closed. He did hope that the new Committee would be taken more into the confidence of the Education Institute, when the school was going to be closed. Otherwise, the Committee would be standing in an awkward position. He had oiriy brought the matter up so that it would not occur again. Mr. L. B. Galbraith (a teacher) said that the sports had nothing to do with the Education Institute. They were run by a body known as the West Coast Primary Schools’ Sports Association. He thought the body at fault was the Education Board. They had authorised the holiday, and why they did not notify the Committee he did not know. They had been supplied with a list of all schools participating- , , Mr. H. Herring said that they could now do what he wanted done at the last meeting —write to the Board and ask it if it granted the holiday.

Mr. Morgan said that it was quite evident the Board was at fault. Mr. Graham said that all schools had been officially notified s of the holiday, and they took it for granted that the committees would be. Mr. A. H. Paterson moved a vote, of (hanks to the chairman and members of the retiring Committee, mentioning particularly Mr. H. Herring, and moving that appreciation of his services should be placed on record. In seconding the motion, Mr. R. Clarke said that he thought the Committee had done excellent work, while he also paid a tribute to the work of Mr. Herring.

Mr. Morgan endorsed the remarks concerning Mr. Herring, whom, he said, had been a keen and active member over a long period of years. The school was losing a man that it could not afford to lose, and he hoped the new members would endeavour to emulate his example. The motion was carried by acclamation. Mr. Clarke also moved a vote of appreciation of the services of Mr. G. Herring, stating that he thought they were losing a very excellent committeeman. The motion was seconded by Mr. Batty and carried by acclamation. The meeting closed with votes of thanks to the Social Committee and the Press. The first meeting of the new Committee was held subsequently. Mr. Morgan was re-elected chairman, unopposed, on the motion of Messrs. Ellery and Batty. Mr. Shapcott was appointed secretary, unopposed. Messrs. Ellery and Morgan were appointed to attend the meeting to be held this evening, to discuss final arrangements for the milk-in-schools scheme, which is to be attended by the Milk-in-Schools officer. It was decided that the Committee continue to meet on the third Thursday in each month. COBDEN The householders’ meeting at Cobden lapsed, there being only five present, in addition to the chairman (Mr. N. Hayes) and the secretary (Mr. P. Higgins). An apology for absence was received from Mr. E. Cressey. RUNANGA.

The meeting at Runanga also lapsed, there being present only Messrs. R. J. Armstrong (chairman), F. Oakley (committee member), J. McLeod (headmaster), and one householder. ■ KAIATA. There was a fair attendance at Kaiata, and Mr. H. Campbell presided. The committee was elected as follows:—-Messrs. H. Campbell (chairman), H. Israelson (secretary), W. Bishop, Arthur Jacobs, and A. Wootton.

HOKITIKA [our own correspondent.] HOKITIKA, April 27. There was a small attendance at the Town Hall, last evening when the meeting of householders was held, foi the election of a School Committee. Inclusive of the old members of the committee, there were 17 individuals present. Mr. S. J. Preston was voted ot the chair. The treasurer’s (Mr. H. W. R. Sweney) statement showed a fair credit balance. The balance sheet was adopted, on the motion of Mr. Armstrong, seconded by the chairman. Mr. Armstrong read the chairman’s report, which covered all the actizuies of the school, and referred to the prospective new school building and the school swimming bath, and conveyed the usual thanks to the teachers, caretaker and Education Board, specially mentioning Mr. R. Wild and Mr. Bignell.

Mr. J. G. Johnston, headmaster, read his report, in which he expressed thanks to‘the staff for its co-operation and the committee, and referred to the success of evening classes recently instituted. In answer to a question by Mr. Wild Mr. Johnston said tihe religious instruction given at the school had no disturbing influence. The chairman announced that only six nominations had been received up to April 19, the date for reception of nominations, namely, Messrs A. C. Armstrong, H. W. R. Sweney, R. J. Redder, A. E. Richards, A, Leslie and R. J. Lawrence. These were declared elected. On April 20, the nomination of Mr. E. R. Fergusson came to hand. This left two nominations short. Mr. Basil King was proposed and accepted nomination. No other nomination was forthcoming and the chairman declared Messrs Fergusson and King

elected, the vacancy to be filled by the committee.

Votes of thanks were recorded to the members of the old committee, who did not seek re-election. Mr. J. Conning, who had filled the position of secretary for 14 years; Mr. W. H. Shannon who has been a member for about 30 years, and has filled the office of chairman for several terms; also Mr. J. J. Breeze. A vote of thanks to the chairman was carried by acclamation.

At the subsequent meeting of the new committee Mr. A. C. Armstrong was re-erected chairman and Mr. Sweney was re-elected treasurer. The office of secretary was held over. The members of the committee failed to persuade Mr. Conning again to accept a position on the committee. The time of meeting was fixed at 7.15 p.m. on the second Monday in each month. Messs Armstrong and Richards were appointed visitors for the ensuing month. Several accounts were passed for payment. Miss Parlance tendered her resignation, having received another appointment. The resignation was accepted with regret and it was resolved to place on the minutes the committee’s appreciation of her work in the school during the past five years. The Canterbury Education Board wrote confirming the appointment of Mr. F. J. Turner. A . letter was received from the stationmaster at Hokitika replying to a request for the rail-car to run to Ross on Thursday mornings to convey pupils to- the district high school, stating that the prospective traffic did not warrant the running of the car. —It was resolved to approach the Education Department on the tnatter. EDUCATION SYSTEMS (Recd. April 27, 11 a.m.). MELBOURNE, April 2. Doctor K. S. Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Educational Research, who returned after a visit to New Zealand, paid a tribute to the. Dominion’s progress in the educational system, in an address to educational authorities. He said that a New Zealand body, similar to the Australian Institute, applied intelligence tests to New Zealand children, similar to those applied in Victoria. The results were not yet analysed, but indicated that New Zealand children would show a higher standard than the Victorians. The New Zealand education system was progressing fast, and would surpass* the Victorian, unless the Government here spent more money.