TARANAKI TEACHERS' INSTITUTE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 20 July 1909, Page 8

TARANAKI TEACHERS' INSTITUTE

The annual meeting of the above took place on Saturday at Stratford, the President (Mr J. W. -Mail) occupying the chair. Fifteen other members were present. Seven new members were duly elected.

The report of the Management Committee was read, and showed that during the year the membership had risen from 87 to 128, and now comprised 95 per cent of the teachers of the district. The balance-sheet was also read, and showed the finances of the Institute to be in a healthy condition, there being a balance of £11 6s 2d in hand.

The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows : — President, Mr Dempsey ; vice-presidents, Mrs Dowling and Mr J. W. Mail ; honorary secretary, Mr R. Mcllroy; executive, Messrs Tyrer, Stratford, and Johnston; honorary auditor, Mr Bary. Mr Tyrer proposed that a bonus of £3 3s be donated to the secretary — not as a reward, but just to show that the Institute appreciated Mr Mcllroy's exceedingly valuable services to it. Mr Dempsey seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

It was resolved that the money collected among teachers towards a memorial to the late Mr W. J. Evans be handed over to Mrs Evans, with a letter from the secretary explaining the purpose for which it was collected.

The following resolution was then moved: That this meeting, although recosnising the great value of the teachers' Saturday classes, is of opinion that tbe Board would be inflicting a great hardship on country teachers by adopting the recommendation of tbe inspectors that the Board should give preference, in making iiqw appointments, to those who regularly attend the Saturday technical classes. Mr Tyrer did not think it would be wise for such a resolution to go forward in that form.

Mrs Dowling knew that the classes were of great value, but considered that teachers should not be forced to attend them in order to get promotion.

Messrs Turkington and Dempsey also agreed that country teachers were under a disadvantage as regards Saturday classes.

Mr Dempsey then proposed as an amendment: "That this Institute would draw the attention of the Board to the injustice to some country teachers and those away from the railway line by the inspectors in their annual report asking the Board to give preference to those attending Saturday classes."

The original motion was then withdrawn in favor of the amendment.

Mr Johnston considered it was likewise a hardship to town teachers to be compelled to attend these classes year after year. The motion as amended was carried.