HAWERA HIGH SCHOOL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 27 April 1927, Page 10

HAWERA HIGH SCHOOL.

ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS. BOARD OF MANAGERS’ MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Hawera High School Board of Managers 'was held last evening. There were present: Mrs J. AY. Harding. Messrs R. S. Sage (chairman 1 ), J. B. Murdoch, A. L. Campbell, J. Gray, W. Crompton, J. W. Harding, J. Entwistle, T. C. Hobbs and A. Gray (headmaster). The headmaster reported that the early opening of the school as decided upon at the previous meeting was proving satisfactory. He reported concerning quotations received for the installation on the grounds of a concrete water trough for horses, and the installation of a trough at a cost not exceeding £8 17s 6d was authorised. The headmaster’s monthly report gave the roll number as 291, comprising 18 agriculture students, 110 commercial. 42 engineering, IS home science, and 103 literary students. “For about eight- months now there has not been a day when someone has not been away bn account of mumps,” continued the report. “At times as many as 30 have been absent, either as sufferers or as contacts. To-day the number absent on this account was 15. So far the fine weather ha® enabled us to put up with lack of accommodation. but it is imperative that something should be. done before the bad weather finally sets in. The term concludes on May G- It has been a particularly broken one. but the work seems generally to l>c up to standard. AVe are indebted to the Operatic Society, which has lent forms to be used in connection with the trestle tables which were made early in the spring.” The report was received. A letter received from the Taranaki Education Board stated that the board would, be permitted the use of the science laboratory at the manual building for the dairy science class. A telegram dated April 23 received from the department notified, in response to the "board’s inquiry, that the grant of £2B 13s 4d. being two-thirds of the cost of repairs to school ceilings, had been approved.—The chairman and Mr Hobbs were, appointed to arrange for the work. EXTRA ACCOMMODATION.

Reporting upon the representations made bv Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P., and himself ‘ to the Minister of Education concerning the necessity for extra accommodation at the school, Mr Murdoch said the Minister had intimated it was impossible at present to consider proposals for new buildings. The Minister had also said the department could not consider the reimbursement of the board in respect of money spent in the erection of a temporary structure, The Minister . had suggested that temporary accommodation might 1,0 provided at the old technical school, but the deputation had given the opinion that this would be unsuitable. Finally, the Minister bad suggested that the board make a further application, and if it was shown that the accommodation was absolutey essential the work would receive prior consideration bv the department, together with certain others of similar nature, the urgency of which had been stressed. The chairman said it was essential that extra- accommodation should be provided. Apart from the proposal that use -be made of a room on the show grounds, the board 1 might oon-side-r the erection of a room winch might cost up to £4OO. or it could consider the question of fitting the- engineering building as a classroom. The latter course of action appeared the more a did sable. It. had been estimated that to provide a wooden floor over the present concrete and to line one of the end walls, as would be necessary, would involve an expenditure of from £SO to £66, according to the class of timber used. Following a general discussion the board visited the engineering building, and when the meeting resumed it was decided, on the. motion of Mr J. Gray. to have the engineer’s room equipped ;vs n- cl a S'stooth , notion. t>etn£z; loft to t-lio chairman and Air Hobbs. It was suggested that the vacation commencing on May 6 would present a favourable opportunity for carrying out the work. It was further resolved to communicate with the department, pointing out that the work would be _ a permanent improvement and asking that the cost be defrayed by the department. DISCLAIMER ACCEPTED. With reference to the discussion at l-he previous meeting concerning a Press paragraph which originally appeared in the Auckland Star on March Jl, attributing certain unfavourable remarks concerning the honesty <n school children in. the- Dominion to Canon Pereira 1 .Janies, of Auckland, a letter received from Canon -lames enclosed a- copy of his disclaimer as already published. Canon James disowned both trie language and the opinions ol the original paragraph. iv.lii.oh he classed as “a grotesque distortion 1 ’ of what lie had actually said. While he had spoken strongly against Iving, impressing the paramount duty of telling the truth, ho had not quoted “such a stupid exaggeration” as “lying among children is one of the curses of New Zealand to-day.” AVlrilo lie did say that one New Zealander had informed him that “wo are becoming a nation of liars,” he had added that he did not. assent to such an impeachment. In acknowledgment of the board’s resolution asking that the Minister of Education reply to the remarks as originally published, the Minister stated he had received an explanation from Canon James on the lines of the reply given to the board direct. The disclaimer was accepted by the board.