SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVIII, Issue LXXVIII, 13 June 1919, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

• ■— ANNUM* CONFERENCE OF THE ASSOCIATION.

The annual conference of tha Taranaki School Committee's Association was held at New Plymouth yesterday, When Mr S. G. Smith, M.P», presided \ ever a, very representative attendance, there being present: Mrs Jemison (Tariki). Messrs G. H. Doiby (Central), \V. W Thomson and J Garcia (West •■ End), R. S. Sage {Hawera), Ira J. Badger (Eltham), W. G. Shoemark : and D. Jordan (Albert), J. W. Downs, j H. J. Roller, L. F. Laurent and H. I C. Sampson (Bell Block), W. K. Morris (Oakura), T. J. Mildenhall and T H. H. Sinclair (Opunake) F. Gawith (Tokaora), W. A. Thomas (Newall), FDickinson, M. lliordan and A. E. Williams (Hurford), W. G. Stanton (Lower Mangorei) and G- E. Bocock (Stratford). Mr P. J. H. White, member of the Education Board, and Messrs A. J. Morton, W. A. Ballantyne and H. Dempsey, inspectors, were also present. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Stratford Remits. Mr Bocock moved that the association be recommended to support the system of national iicstels tor Tara_ naki as one means of protecting the national sy6tem of education. This was seconded by Mr Sage, who referred to the difficulty ot tinding board for country children desirous of attending secondary or technical schools. The remit wag carried. A motion that, with a view to cheapening the cost of school books and re-' quisites, the Government be urged to , establish a central \bureau for their! supply, was carried. ! Eltham Remits. Mr Bridger moved that the School Committees' Conference is satisfied with the present method of the election of school committees. Mr Thomas seconded. After some discussion, the motion was carried, the president stating that he hoped the incoming executive would place the view,s of school committees before the Department. It was resolved that the Board be i asked to urge upon the Government J the necessity of greater expedition in i the payment of subsidies.

Mr Bridger moved that, the confer- ! ence strongly approves of the sugges- i tion that a universal system of books should be introduced. Mr Gawith seconded.—Adopted. Mr Bridger moved that the question of granting assistance to children travelling by road to high and tech_ nical schools be urged upon the Government and that she Taranaki Board "be.asTEed to co-operate. He referred to j the fact that children could travel free ' and he thought that in the near fu- ; ture something would be done.— . Adopted. ( J Mr Bridger moved that the conference gives its support to the sugges_ i tions made by the chairman of the Taranaki Board to the effect that a teacher should be provided in the back country districts when there were at least six children, and that ample salary be provided.—Carried. The president moved: That the con. ference supports the demand for an increa,se in the payment of capitation to school committees.—Carried, by rail from Eltham to New Plymouth, but the fare by coach from Kaponga to New Plymouth was not paid. Mr Gawith seconded. The president stated that the matter had been placed before the Department, Newall Road Remit. Mr W. A. Thomas moved that in view of the difficulty experienced by teachers in obtaining suitable board and lodgings in country districts, the fact that the absence of a school residence often restricts the choice of" suitable teachers, the Minister of Education be urged to make provision in this year's estimates for an increased grant for building school residences.—Carried.

Executive Remits. Mr Dolby moved that the Minister of Education be urged to increase the amounts now paid to holders of Taranaki and university scholarships.—Carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as fallows: President. Mr S. G. Smith, M.P. (reelected) ; vice-presidents, Messrs G. H. Dolby (New Plymouth), R. S. Sage (Hawera), J. G. Simpson (Moa) G E. Bocock (Stratford), W. K. Morris (Oakura), T. H. H. Sinclair (Opunake), and I. J. Bridger (Eltham); executive, Messrs J. Garcia, A. P. Lister J. W. Downs (Bell Block), .and F. 'Stanley (Hillsborough); secretary, and treasurer, W. G. Reid.