SHANNON NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1009, 7 May 1924, Page 6

SHANNON NOTES.

MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS. (From Our Own Correspondent). The annual report of the school committee presented at the annual meeting of householders on Monday evening stated that the number of children on the school roll at 30th April, 1923. was 400, the present roll number being 372. Messrs Burns and Blackie, inspectors of schools, paid visits on June Ist and September 4 and 5, 1923, and reported on the work of the school as being satisfactory. Mr Powell, the board's clerk of works, had visited the school on different occasions during the year. Visits were also made by the departmental medical officers, , the board's truant officer and physical instructor.' ' Two- changes in the permanent staff Of the school had occurred during the period under review and in each case the change was due to promotion on the. part of the. teachers concerned. A successful school carnival was held during the year and as a result thereof the committee had been enabled to make several much-needed improvements in the school grounds, and further improvements are now in progress. The annual picnic was held in February and a visit to the Imperial squadron was made last week. The improvements to the grounds carried out from the special funds consisted of tile draining erection of playing apparatus, horse paddock drained. The other work is the putting down of tennis courts, cricket pitch, improving football ground and the laying out of the grounds in front of tho school facing the street in flowers and shrubs. The chairman said he was disappointed with the attendance of householders and made reference to the system of receiving nominations. He said the nomination papers did not reach him until about three days, before nominations closed and under the present system he contended it was unfair to expect the chairman of the committee to luidertake the responsibility of getting nominations, as the chairman and secretary could practically get a committee together to suit themselves. In his opinion the. chairman should bo neutral. He thought the old system of householders nominating members at the householders' meeting was much fairer, and providing the meeting was given full publicity those interested would be sure to attend. At present the only publicity was by notices in shop windows as the board would not go to the expense of advertising. The meeting resolved that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to get tlte old system of receiving nominations re-instated and that the board be asked to send out forms and notices earlier. Mr Blackwood asked if the committee could make provision at the school to provide hot drinks at mid-day for children coming a distance during the winter months. He stated that in other- districts such provision was 'made, and on his motion it was (decided it be a recommendation to tho incoming committee to make provision in that direction. - The 'following is the new committee: Messrs R. Tippler (chairman). R. Downes, W. N. Brown, S. Anderson, W. Christian, E. Warrington D. Gustofsen, G. Watkins, W.. Carlyle (secretary).