EDUCATION BOARD

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9573, 26 July 1923, Page 7

EDUCATION BOARD

ALTERATION IN RISPRESENTATION

The proposals of the .Education Department for an alteration in the number of members on bid neat ion .Boards, as they had. found the best method of apportioning seats to be inequitable, were discussed at the Hawke’s Bay Education Board’s mooting last week. It was mentioned, that by the proposals the number on the Board would be reduced from 12 to 9, Napier, Hastings, and Gisborne each losing a member. Mr J'. Id. Kirk explained that the proposals had been before the Council of Education, and he thought that members would now find that the Department's view had been materially altered. There was every possibility that they would not insist on a -reduction in the number of members on a Board, hut they would insist that there should he. some alteration in the representation and the method ot electing a Board. So far as. this Board was concerned, he was ol opinion that there should lie a representative from the Wairoa end on the Board. Mr G. Crawshaw quite agreed that there, was something lopsided somewhere. The difficulty was going to bo as. to whether the Board should bo elected on a basis of school population or on the geographical area. Mr J. Clark Thomson was of opinion that town members should not ho limited to four or fivo schools .as at present, but should have a district extending- some distance beyond the Borough boundaries. Mr G. W. Venables considered that the representation on the Board was not too large for a big district. .To bis mind the question was. one of grouping. He moved: “[.hat this Board is of opinion that it is unwise to reduce the number of Boards’ representatives, but it is thought advisable to adjust representation on a more equitable basis, such basis to he decided on from time to time by the respective Boards.” Mr J. R. Kirk seconded the motion.which, was carried unanimously.