SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 245, 13 September 1933, Page 11

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

CENTRAL SCHOOL. MONTHLY MEETING HELD. The Central School Committee held its monthly meeting, last evening, Mr W. G. Black presiding. Also present were Messrs W. H. Cadwallader, L. D. Simmonds, W. Garden, A. A. Gordon, C. Taylor, G. H. Jarrett, R. Tait and A. E. Kerslake (secretary).

In reply to an application for a grant for the erection of a bicycle shed, the Wanganui Education Board wrote agreeing to make a grant 01 £ls. The communication also paid a tribute to tho committee’s fine beautifying work.—Received, a letter of appreciation to be forwarded to the board.

The headmaster (Mr E. Bary) reported that the second term had closed with a roll of 753, the average weekly roll having been 758 and the average attendance 69(1. The low average was due to the prevalence of whooping cough and influenza. Application for the exemption of the term numbers had been made to the Education Board. During the first week of the present term 45 children were admitted and seven withdrawn, making the present roll 791. Miss McConnon (relieving assistant) had commenced her duties in place of Miss Whitehead, Miss Heatley (probationary assistant) had commenced in place of Miss Tunnicliffe. Mr A. F. McMurtrie, the senic* inspector, had visited the school on September 5 and Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, the medical officer, had made an examination of tho pupils on Thursday and Friday last. — The report was adopted.

Mr Bary added that the present roll was the highest since the amendment to the Education Act had come into operation concerning the admission of five-year-old children. The secretary stated that in August, 1931, the roll stood at 812 and comment was made on the present satisfactory position. Reporting on the work at the baths, Mr Simmonds stated that the expenditure of £l4B had been entailed. The flooring of the rear portion had been commenced. It was mentioned that the baths would be open for use considerably before the date of the official ceremony.

Accounts amounting to £54 8s lid were passed for payment. The treasurer (Mr Tait) reported that there was a credit bank balance of about £37, with considerable revenue yet to be received.

WEST END SCHOOL. The West End School Committee met last evening, Mr G. Tremaine being in the chair. Others present were Messrs A. Beattie, W. Schwabe, A. McLean. H. Coanop, L. Hogg, A. Penketh, W. Oliver,' G. K. Hollier (hon. secretary) and H. W. Jackson (headmaster). The report of the headmaster said that the school had reopened after the vacation on September 4. There were 16 new pupils and three withdrawals, giving a roll number of 364. Most of the new entrants were children who would attain the age of six years during the present term. Miss B. Redin had completed her period of relieving probationersliip at the end ■of the previous term and had been succeeded by Miss F. M. Louisson. Miss Henderson had been absent from September 4 to September 10 owing to illness. If the labour were available, added the report, it was hoped that the committee would seek an early opportunity of having the distempering of the walls carried out as it was understood that the Education Board was willing to supply the material for 'the purpose free of cost. —The report was adopted. The chairman said that an endeavour had been made unsuccessfully to have the distempering of the walls done during the last holidays. It was now considered advisable to wait until the next holidays, when the erection of scaffolding would not interfere with the classes.

Thanks were received from Miss E. Owtram on behalf of the West End Sunday School for the use of the school for the annual Sunday School party. A donation of os from the Sunday School was received with thanks.

The secretary of the Herbert Smith Trust advised "that, under the circumstances outlined by the committee, it had been decided to grant miniatures for sports cups as requested. The four cups were to be forwarded. The committee decided that the miniatures be awarded to the last winners of the challenge cups. The trust authorities are to be thanked for the miniatures.

The Education. Board advised that expenditure not exceeding £25 had been authorised for pipes and metal with which to bed the two acres of the newly conditioned playing area.—The letter was received.

Prices for the laying down of a hard tennis court were received, being £59 and £7B.

When asked what the position was with regard to the finances, the treasurer (Mr Hollier) said that he thought the committee would have about £4O after squaring up certain accounts, but he thought that the work on the two acres of new playing ground would fully tax the finances before it was finished. The job would not bo finished this year at the rate at which the work was progressing. After the levelling had been finished, there would be further expense in maintenance following the settling, grassing and fencing. The work had been slower than expected owing to the fact that all the barrows expected could not be supplied by the City Council. As the finances were at present the committee could not entertain laying down a hard court. He moved that the chairman make inquiries as to what the cost would be of laying down a chip mixture or something of that nature that would be suitable for a hard court as a preliminary. That work could be done for a great deal less than the laying down of a court for which the prices had been submitted. Mr Beattie seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously. It was decided to fix the charge to the tennis club at 7s per member for the use of the courts for the coming season.

The secretary said that the baths had finished up the last year with a deficit of £25 and that amount had to be made up in some manner. Mr Beattie moved, and Mr Schwabe seconded, that the baths be closed a month earlier in the coming season as that would save expense. The motion was lost. It was pointed out that a hard and fast rule could not be laid down, as the matter was largely controlled by the weather. Mr Hollier moved that a baths committee lie set up. Those appointed to the committee were Messrs Penketh, Beattie and Schwabe. with the chairman and secretary.' The committee is to go into ways and means of improving the finances of the baths and each member is to have certain powers with regard to the control of the baths. On the motion of Mr Oliver, seconded bv Mr Cojinop, it was decided to place on record the committee’s appreciation of the work of Mr and Mrs Schwabe in the decoration of the hall for the school ball. Appreciation was

also expressed of Mr Hogg’s work in the matter of the lighting effects. Messrs G. Tremaine and A. Beattie were appointed the visiting committee for next month.

Accounts totalling £l7 Os 8d were passed for payment.