HIGH SCHOOLS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 304, 21 November 1928, Page 2

HIGH SCHOOLS

BOARD OF GOVERNORS. MEETING HELD LAST NIGHT. Mr W. R. Birnio presided over a meeting of the High Schools Board of Governors last evening. THero were also present Mrs J. Aitchison and Messrs.. M. 11. Oram, T. R. Hoddor, W. F. Durward, J. A. Nash, M.P., and W. L. Fitzherbert. • BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL The Rector of the Boys’ High School, Mr J. Murray, reported as follows: —The roll numbor has been 312, and the average attendance 304. The annual sports were successfully held in fine weather on Wednesday, November 7th, tho winner of ' the Board of Governors’ Cup (senior championship) being Eric Fletcher and of the Hornblow Cup (junior championship) Richard Moxon. At tho recent Royal Show, Hugh Simpson and Alan Collier, gain Ist and 2nd places respectively in. tho drawing examination. In the Dominion Navy League essay competition, John Woolf was next in merit in the junior section. At the , teachers’ D. certificate examination N. Fletcher and H. Dixon obtained group passes. Mr M. Cohen has presented to the school an interesting picture of Captain Cook, which he brought back from tho ' Cook Colebrations at Hawaii. Mr A. McSweeny has presented a silver cup u > trophy for fielding in cricket, and Mr L. Wimsctt medals to tho winners in the boxing competition held at school on Friday, 9th inst. The school break-up ceremony is on December 19th and it is customary for the board to invite the Old Boys’ Association to be represented by a speaker.—Tho report was adopted, and it was decided, as in former years, to invite a member of tho Old Boys’ Association to speak at the break-up ceremony. . Tho action of tho chairman in authorising minor repairs to tho baths at an estimated cost of £5 to £7 was confirmed. TECHNICAL SCHOOL. The Director of tho Technical School (Mr G. G. Hancox) reported :—Mr W. S. Austin inspector of schools, visited the school on 19th November. Voluntary donations have been received from the following: * Kiwi Bacon Co., Messrs Barningham and Co., Mrs Coombs, Kairanga County Council, Premior Drapery Co., and Mr L. U. Berry. At the recent Royal Show an exhibit was made of work representative ot that being done in the school. In the com. petition classes, awards won were 27 first prizes, 19 second, 8 third, 7 very highly commended, 2 h.c.-total 63. The money valuo of the prizes camo to £ls 3s 3s in tho Palmer Prize competition conducted by the Wellington Navy League, Noa a Bishop came second in the junior grad for secondary school girls.. At the city and Guilds examination hold in June y® ,j 12 students were successful, Alan U Uun Draining a first-class pass and Karl j. Borreson a second-class pass in carpentry and joinery, Grade 2. , , Tho chairman suggested that the gaslight fittings at present in the Technical Schoo be removed, now that electric light had been installed. Mr Nash said that in about six months’ time power from Waikaremoana should be connected with our present system, and that would give a supply free from interruption lhe . gas fittings could be renewed then if desired. Ho suggested that they be left until then. This was agreed to. , Tho various donors towards the school funds were thanked for their gifts. A. letter was received from the Nelson Technical School, asking support of a motion protesting against a proposed of foes in evening classes, at technical schools, especially for apprentices as set out in a departmental circular. The b0.r.l decided to take no action as the department recently. approved of the boards. scale of fees. GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. Mrs M. Rhodes, acting-principal of th«j Girls’ High School, reported-.-The roll number of the past month was 197, with an average attendance of 182.7. The nual athletic sports were hold on tho school grounds on October 24 and were very successful. Tho senior championship was won bv J. Aiken, Wynne Fleming and Madgo McColl being runners-up. The junior championship was won by D. Hadneld, J. Eelinton being runner-up. During. f tnc month, the school has been the recipient of several valuable donations. Mr J. Balsillie, of Palmerston North, has presented a handsome silver rose bowl as a trophy for the winner of tho junior championship at the athletic sports. A complete set of the latest edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica has been given by the Parents Association for the school reference library. This will fill a long felt want and is greatly appreciated. Tho school has also to thank Mrs Birnie and Miss Fraser for special prizes for the sport 3, Mr s Birnio s prizes going to the runners-up for the senior championship, and Miss Fraser’s to the winner of the 220 yards championship. In order to stimulate interest in the homo course, Mrs J. Aitchison has promised . a special prize of books for the best girl taking that course at the school. . lhe grounds arc in excellent order, and tennis is now in full swing. . The report was adopted, and it was decided to writo to the various donor 3 thanking them for their gifts. RECTOR’S RESIDENCE. Tho report of tho sub-committee, composed of Messrs Fitzherbert, Hoddor and Birnie, appointed to interview Mr Murray regarding possiblo hostel economies and tho rector’s residence, was then presented. Tho report read: “Regarding tho hostel and a possiblo increaso of fees to meet depreciation, Mr Murray could offer no suggestion for further economies in running ,tho hostel. It was decided to recommend tho board to write to Wellington, Dannevirke, Napier, Wairarapa, Wanganui and New Plymouth high and technical high school boards asking what they intended doing to meet the extra expense of depreciation, and informing them that this board would in all likelihood bo forced to increaso foes, suggesting at the same time that this would bo an opportune time to increase fees all round. Regarding the rector’s residence, it was pointed out to Mr i Murray that the general feeling of the board was that he should provido his own residence. He promised to give tho mutter his earnest consideration. It was also pointed out to him that, in view of the financial obligations of the board, if he continued to occupy his present residence, he did so at his own risk and that the board oould not assume any liability for maintenance or repairs thereto.” Mr Hoddor: Personally I am not in favour of that report. I am of tho opinion, and always have been of tho opinion, that the rector’s residenco should be closo to the school.

Tho secrotary stated that if he could have seen Mr Hodder he would have let him seo tho report. It was an accurate record of what was said at the meeting. Mr Durward moved that tho report Be adopted. Mr Hodder declared that the motion could not bo put as it was contrary to what was already on the books in the form of a motion.

Mr Durward: That’s not a matter for any member of tho board to decide. It’s for tho chairman. Mr Hoddor: I’m not so sure. I think it’s absolutely illegal. Tho chairman : Well, I’m going to put the motion.

The chairman then put the motion that the report be adopted. Mr Hodder, the only dissentient, asked that his vote bo recorded in the minutes.

Tho chairman: This matter has already caused us a lot of discussion and taken a lot of time. I want to settle it once and for all. It’s no good letting it go on. To bring the matter to finality, I move that the rector bo given notice that the present arrangement with regard to the residence be terminated as from December 31 next, and that thereafter, no responsibility for a residence be accepted by tho board. Mr Nash: I think we should go into committee. I object to any matter relating to any member of the staff being discussed in open meeting. Mr Durward : I think wo should bo in open meeting. I object to going into committee on matters of finance. The motion was put and carried in open meeting. ■ The board then went into committee and discussed plans for the disposal of the land and house. DEPRECIATION ON BUILDINGS. The department’s demand that the hoard allow depreciation on buildings at the rate of throe per cent, for wooden buildings

0 and ono per cent, for brick was discussed. Mr Durward said that it, was quite 6 reasonable that depreciation bo provided for. The difficulty was to know how they n were going to find the money. 0 Mr Fitzherbert suggested that the de--11 partment might arrango for fees for all boards to bo uniform throughout the Dor minion, at such a scale that provision s could be made for depreciation. At present some schools, with lower fees, were h competing against others, and'this was against the principles of democracy. Mr Durward said he was frightened of placing too much power in the hands of the department, who already controlled e everything that they could. Mr Nash: It’s not placing anything in their hands. It is simply a case of getting y them to do what we want.

Tho secretary reported that ho had wired to various schools enquiring tho fees charged for full time and weekly boarders at their hostels, and the avorage scale was almost the same as that charged here. Air Nash said, that, if the department insisted on depreciation being allowed, the boards should place the responsibility on the shoulders of the department by pointing out that an increaso in fees would ho necessary. He moved that a deputation wait upon the Minister of Education pointing out tho position, and also asking him to endeavour to arrange a uniform scale of fees. This was carried, . Messrs Nash, Birnio and Durward being appointed. The secretary was instructed to wiro to other boards inviting them to join in the deputation.