WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 September 1928, Page 6

WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD .

DISTRICT MATTERS. The monthly meeting of the Wellington Education Board was held on Wednesday. Amongst the matters dealt with were the lollowing: MANUAL INSTRUCTION, The question of establishing manual instruction at Paekakariki for the benefit of adjoining schools was discussed' and a special report is to be obtained from Mr Brown, the manual instruction director on the subject. TEACHERS ’ ROOM. The provision of a teachers * room at the Mamfkau School was placed on the urgent list. EDUCATIONAL PICTURES. The Board approved of the proposal of Mr Gladstone Hill for the supply of a film service three times a year to be produced in school hours at approv- ( H PPIIfvPQ TENDERS ACCEPTED, Tenders were accepted as follows: Additions to Ohau school, J. K. Allen, Levin, £550; Otaki, latrines and septic tank, J. Gillespie, £4OB 19s HEADMASTER AT OHAU. Mr J. Connor, at present teaching in Canterbury, was appointed headmaster of the Ohau School. f ' LEYIN GRANTS. Graiits of £lO for the provision of seating around the main school and £7 10s for the erection of’a screen to protect the main entrance of the high school were passed for the Levin. District High 'School, and the erection of a screen in the corridor at the school to form a retiring room was sanctioned. BOARD TO PAY FOR SCHOOL' • WATER SUPPLY. Last year the Board decided that school committees should pay the water rates in boroughs, though these had been paid by the Board for many years, it being contended that this charge-was imposed on committees by the Education Act. The decision caused much indignation amongst committees and Strong i representations were made to, the Minister for Education, who expressed the opinion that the charge should not be placed on the committees. The Department now wrote to the Board stating that there would be no objection to the water rates being paid out of the Board maintenance fund. Board members considered that the cost would be £6OO or £7OO a year,, which the maintenance found could not meet. Mr A. W. Hutchings asked that th;> staff give a return showing the total cost of the rates to the Board, and the assistant secretary stated that this would be £3OO a year, of which he suggested the Board should pay half. Mr G. H. Nicholls protested that the water rate had brought Northland 1 School Committee to a state of bankruptcy. - Mr J. J. Clark said he. was glad to heard the Board could pay the amount out of the maintenance fund, which just now had a credit of £IBOO. Although there were heavy demands against the fund, it was augmented eveny month, and they received £13,200 for maintenance during the twelve months, out of which he thought they could meet the expenditure for water ' rate ... without any .serious strain. The point which concerned him was tlurt the Department would not untiU. now that the Board should pay ; t<- If (he payment depleted the maintenance fund for other purposes' then they should apply to the Department for more money tor the maintenance fund. Mr Hutchings said school committees generally were dissatisfied and indignant with the attitude of the Board and the Department in regard to thewater rate, and the Board should meet the whole of the charge. Mr A. C. Blake pointed out that there was a good deal of waste water at schools which could be avoided. The ahildren went for a drink and left the taps running. If taps could be provided which would automatically turn off when the children had had' a drink ■». they would save thousands of gallons. The architect said an effort had been made to meet waste and leakage, ami the low pressure was not always satisfactory. ' Objection was raised to. the being retrospective, but Mr Hutchings pointed out that some committees had already mid the water rate, while others'were holding off. It would most unfair to penalise-those-.who had acted in good faith. Mr Clark moved that the payment be made retrospective to the time when: the change was made in the enarges by-the corp iration. Mr NichoUs seconded, and the motion was t:arrioA >|i<i>>|ii _ Bi?—