SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 123, 23 April 1940, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

BIENNIAL ELECTION. MEETINGS OF HOUSEHOLDERS. Householders in Palmerston North and other parts of the Wanganui Education Board’s district met last evening for the biennial election of primary school committees Of the six schools in Palmerston North elections were necessary in only three instances—at College Street, Terrace End and Russell Street—the nominations at other schools not being in excess of the numbers of seats. CENTRAL SCHOOL. DENTAL CLINIC FEES. There was an attendance of a little more than a score of persons at the meeting at Central School, over which Mr W. G. Black presided.' Presenting his report, Mr Black stated that the standard of work at the school could bo judged from the fact that it had been graded excellent for the last five years. It had been served by an efficient staff, in which there had been numerous changes. The recent establishment of a dental clinic in the school grounds had proved a great convenience. Efforts to enlarge the grounds had been successful and the new area had been levelled, grassed and fenced without cost to the committee. The baths had been reconstructed at a cost of £6OO, one-third each being provided by the Education Department, Department of Labour, and the committee, which would require to go into ways of providing its share. The balance-sheet showed a net revenue of £1156 16s 7d, against an expenditure of £1212 9s 7d. The excess of £55 13s expenditure when deducted from the cash balance of £92 19s Cd brought forward on February 28, 1938, left a credit of £37 6s 6d. It had been possible to provide the bare necessities out of capitation, which it was expected would continue on the same basis. However, when certain of the children were transferred to the Intermediate School the amount would be substantially reduced. Sports activities had been entered into and 393 children had received swimming certificates and 224 life-saving awards, including 16 bronze medallions. The committee extended thanks to the headmaster {Mr E. Bary) and staff, the ladies’ committee with Mrs D. Evans as chairwoman, the caretaker, Education Board, and all others who had given assistance. Congratulations were extended to Lieut. H. Palmer, FlyingOfficer N. R. Lecher, and SergeantMajor W. Fitzgerald, members of the committee, who had enlisted. The treasurer (Mr L. V. Winks) presented the statement of accounts, which was adopted with the report. As the nominations did not exceed the number required, the following were declared elected: Messrs IV. G. Black, G. Farrar, V. G. Clift, F. Senter, J. H. AV. Butler, L. V. Winks (members of the old committee), D. A. C. L. Stevenson and K. IV. Croll..

lue meeting conveyed to Mr G. Fmrar appreciation of his services as secretary of the committee over a period of years, and sympathy in an indisposition, which had required him to enter hospital. Mr T. Crowe inquired 'whether a family concession was available in the matter of dental clinic fees. Parents with large families frequently found it a hardship to pay 4s for each child.— It was decided to suggest to the Dental Clinic Committee that concessions bo "ranted to parents of three or more children. At a subsequent meeting of the new committee, Mr Black was reappointed chairman, a tribute being paid to him for his past services by Mr Clift. Air Clift was appointed treasurer and Mr Winks secretary, Mr Senter being reappointed delegate to the Dental Clinic Committee. (Messrs Black, Robinson, and Winks were appointed delegates to the School Committees’ Association. Notification was received of the appointment of Miss F. Kerins and Air R. T. Familton to the staff. The following committees were appointed: Baths, Messrs Clift and Stevenson; buildings, Messrs Croll and Robinson; grounds, Messrs Black, Senter, and Butler. The Indies’ meeting reappointed (Mrs D. Evans chairwoman of the ladies’ committee and Arif. AV. Bodell secretary. Other members are Alesdames C. Rush, R. Hammond, AV. Garden, AV. Eitzgerald, G. Shelley, 0. AVoskett, J. Cribb, AV. Stevens. G. Farrar, A\’. Ogier, E. Burrell, AV. Ingram and Lavin. It was decided to take charge of the patriotic shop for a week and to conduct a stall at the Show. Arrangements were made in connection with the concert. TERRACE END SCHOOL. TRIBUTES TO FORMER MEAIBERS At the meeting of householders at Terrace End, at which over forty attended. Air AV. B. Tennont was appointed to the chair. Air Tennent made appropriate reference to the passing of the late Air G. H. Bennett and tlie- late Mr AV. B. Cameron. Both, he said, had rendered signal service to education generally and to the Terrace End School in particular. Air Bennett had occupied the position of chairman of the School Committee from 1905 to 1907, in addition to being a member of the AVangamii Education Board. Air Cameron had occupied the chairmanship of the committee from 1926 to 1933. All the members of Air Cameron’s family had been pupils of the school and had exerted a good influence among the pupils with whom they had been associated. The families of both gentlemen had left a record in the school of which they might well he proud. The meeting stood in silence for a brief period as a mark of respect to both the late gentlemen. Subsequent to the adoption of the report (already published), read by Air K. G. Chamberlain, Air Tennent aulogised the work of all concerned with the advancement of the school, praising particularly the headmaster (Air A. AV. Thompson) and his staff. Airs J. Barsanti (chairwoman) and the ladies’ committee, and Air G. Laing (caretaker). Air H. L. Cunninghame gave a very detailed outline of the committee’s income and expenditure for the past two years, this being adopted also Afr R. C. Donald paid a high tribute to the staff for their oontinued interest in the children and the kind influence they had exorcised. It would he regrettable were the school to lose some of the members of the staff, but tile march of time necessitated changes.. Air Thompson, who said ho bad 6pent 25 years in Palmerston North, added that he hoped that, oven with the establishment of the Intermediate School, he would l>e able to conndete bis service at Terrace End. A roll of 351 was necessary to keep the grade for this. Til referring to impending J chancres, Mr Thompson spoke verv | highly of the services of Airs S. T. Wrigley. who had for long been on the staff and who would He retiring ; on superannuation : also Mrs L. M. j Myles, whom the alterations would af-

fect. Both ladies had given long service and had done wonderful work. Others whom the changes might affect were Airs AV. V. Ho bin (relieving teacher) and Air N. A. Giddings, both of whom they would be sorry to lose. The transfer to the Intermediate School would affect about 200 chil- ! dren from Terrace End. Air Thompson : also thanked the ladies’ and men’s ; committees and the caretaker for I their co-operation. I The ladies’ committee was accorded j thanks on the ealj of Air AA’ix and Air | Tennent. special mention being made I of Airs Barsanti, Airs Willson and Mrs ■Anderson (the latter two of whom had served as secretary). Airs Barsanti acknowledged the compliments and appealed for further ladies to help the school. Air and Airs Laing were also thanked for their work for the school. The voting resulted in the return of Alessrs E. G. Bennett, K. G. Chamberlain, H. L. Cunninghame, R. C. Donald, J. E. L. Gardner, J. Fvfe, AA’. B. . Tennent. E. P. AA’ix (former members), jand Air R. .J. Andrew. Air Tennent ] congratulated the members who had ■ been re-elected, and Air Andrew on | his success after several attempts. ApI preciatio.n of Air H. D. Alilne’s service | in the past two years as an enthusiastic member of the committee was expressed by the chairman, who also commended the interest taken bv the other candidate, Air J. P. AA illson, in the school. Air J. Davidson, in proposing thanks to Air Tennent, said his services had l>eeti of much value to the residents. Ah' Tennent, in reply, said that work done among children was one of the best investments it was possible to make. At a sulisequent meeting of the committee Air Tennent was re-elected j chairman. COLLEGE STREET SCHOOL. At the meeting of the College^Street School householders, Air W. H. JBrown, a member of the AVanganui Education Board, was elected to the chair. 'There was an attendance of over fifty. Mr H. G. Mills read the biennial report and also thanked the retiring members of the committee, Alcssrs H. Christmas, E. A. Shackleton and AV. K. Taylor. He commended the excellent work done by Air and Airs G. AVatchorn. Mr Alills also mentioned that ■ the committee had been in communication with the State Housing Department m regard to the selling of the old school site. The committee hoped to purchase some land adjacent to the site of the present school. The reports were adopted. Air IT. Christmas (treasurer) explained the numerous items in the balance-sheet, which showed that the •school had a credit balance of £278 Os 4d, and £269 10s 2d in the assembly hall account. Air Brown said that the school would he the poorer through losing Afessrs Shackleton and Christmas, the secretary and treasurer, respectively, and also Air Taylor. Air A. AA’. Yortt also commended the work of the committee. Mr N. H. Tunnicliffe (headmaster), in his report, stated that the school had an excellent staff and facilities, and the grounds were in good ord'r. His predecessor as headmaster, Air L. J. Plank, had cared well for the school. Air Tunnicliffe stated that education was looked upon as commencing at school, but this was erroneous as it started when a child was horn and ended when the stage was reached in life when one’s mind started to look hack instead of forward. Alany parents did not train their children well and many left the disciplinary measures to others to carry out. Co-operation between the staff and parents was very necessary in educational matters. By the opening of the Intermediate School many schools will undergo a great material change. The speaker said that the break between the plenary school and secondary school was great and the Intermediate School was therefore designed to bridge the gaps and introduce the subjects which are taught at the secondary schools. In the world at present there were liianv misfits, and these were caused through subjects being forced on the pupils. In moving a vote of thanks to Air Tunnicliffe, Air Brown said that the opening of the Intermediate School would be a definite advantage to Palmerston North. The speaker said Air Tunnicliffe, who is to be headmaster at the Foxton District High School, was an excellent headmaster. Mr AA’. F. Cutler moved : “That the meeting request the Alinister of Education to implement legislation having its its object the invalidating of all school committee elections where a honse-to-house canvass is introduced.” After a brief discussion, in which Mr Cutler said he had conclusive evidence which would substantiate his claim that such a canvass had been held, the motion was lost on the voices. The following members were elected to the committee: Messrs H. G. Alills, L. At. Paddy, C. Aitken, E. Cruickshank, E. Persson, F. G. Opie, R. A. Brace. L. I. Plimmer and J. Creighton. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Afr Alills was elected chairman, Mr Brace, secretary, and Air Plimmer, trea-suror. Colonel J. H. AA'hyte was appointed the committee’s representative on the dental clinic committee. The following constitute thc_ ladies’ committee: Alesdames J. Kennedy (chairwoman). AA T . Ross (secretary), A. AlcLeod, AI. Low, AI. Avers. R. Holdsworth, H. Gush, J. Wright, E. AA’. Drake, R. Butcher, and E. A. Cooper. *

HOKOAA’HITU SCHOOL

Air H. AA’. Cox was elected to the chair at the Hokowhitu householders’ meeting. In his report on the past two years’ work of the committee, the chairman expressed his thanks to tho committee for the loyal support they had given him and also to the headmaster (Air A. H. AlcLea.n) and his staff. Thanks were also extended to the ladies’ committee for the splendid work they had done. A further area of approximately 1300 square yards at the back of the school had been asphalted and converted into a playground. The ground beyond this area had been harrowed and levelled. The £2O held as the nucleus of an assembly hall fund had been transferred to the general 'account. The school had been kept in good repair and draining outside attended to by the Education Board. Recently a percussion band had been formed under the direction of Aliss Gills. Air Cox expressed the thanks of the committee for the services rendered by Mr C. Haydon, who had received notice of his appointment to the charge of the Taonui School. The headmaster, in his report, stated that the standard of officiencv has been well maintained. It was with regret that he had to report the pending departure of Air Haydon, who had been associated with the school since its establishment in 1924. The projected opening of the Intermediate School was sure to cause further movement of the staff in the near future owing to the consequent regrading of the school. The roll over the period under review had remained fairly stationary. Apart from the removal of the two upper forms next year he saw no reason why there should’ be wide fluctuation in the future. Air AlcLean expressed his

thanks to the outgoing committee for their support and co-operation. ft was decided to place on record the good work of Air Haydon during the last 16 years and wish him every success. Several - speakers referred to the, way in which Air Haydon had carried out his duties. The committee declared elected for the next two years is as follows: Atessrs K. AA’. Cox, L. D. Robertson, A. AA r . Green, P E. Crowther, G. A. Alelvillc, AV. J. Rickard, H. H. Anderson (present members), H. Lock, H. D. Ayson. The nominations did not exceed the number of seats. At a subsequent meeting of the committee, the following officers were elected: Chairman, Air Cox; deputychairman, Ai r Afolville; secretary and treasurer, Air Crowther; emergency committee, Alessrs Crowther, Cox, Alelvillc, Green; representatives on the Alanawatu-Oroua School Committees’ Association, Alcssrs Green, Cox, Crowther; school dental • clinic delegate. Afr Robertson. 'Hie visiting committee for Alay is Alcssrs Green ond Cox. RUSSELL STREET SCHOOL. At the meeting at the Russell Street School there was an attendance of about thirty householders. Air D. Ralione was appointed chairman of the ' meeting. The following committee was elected : Afessrs AA’. A. Boniface, E. A. Cliristieson, ■ AI. N. Doig, J. A. Grant, N. E. Hansen, AI. Laurenson, D. AA r . J. AlcDowall, P. R. AValker and R. R. Williams. Alessrs G. C. Jensen and F. . C. Jones were the other candidates. The report, presented by the chairman of the school committee (Air Grant) said that there was nothing of outstanding interest in the two-year period. Alessrs Williams and Hansen had replaced two members who had left the committee, and thanks was due to Alessrs Haines and AA’illiams for their services as secretaries. The school, the youngest in the city, had completed 11 s'ears of existence. Air C. S. Trask was not able to continue on the committee and thanks were extended to him for his services. The school had an energetic and zealous ladies’ committee The roll number was well maintained, the average in 1938 being 307 and in 1939 307. The average attendance in 1938 was 273 and in 1939 it was 271. Epidemics had affected the work in both year. The staff had remained reasonably static and under the headmaster (Mr J. Connor) had maintained a highly satisfactory standard of work. The school had continued to take an active interest in school and inter-house sport. Thanks were expressed to all who had helped the school. The finances were quite sound, it was reported. On taking office, the committee had £33 13 S gj in the general account and £194 3 S qj in the special account,-a total of £227 17s Od; and oil February 29, 1940 there was £4O 17s 4d in the general account and £ISO 0s lOd in the special account, a total of £220 18s 2d In addition to these funds the ladies’ committee held funds iaised by it towards the contemplated assembly h a ll. Extensions had been made to the school grounds. Air Grant referred in appreciative terms to the work of the ladies’ committee. The meeting closed with votes of thanks for the work of Air Trask, the headmaster, and staff, the ladies’ committee, members of the AVanganui Education Board, the chairman ol the meeting and the chairman of the oommittee. Air Grant was re-elected chairman at a subsequent meeting of the committee and Air AA’illiams was re-elected secretary. Alessrs Christieson and AlcDowall were -appointed delegates to the Manawatu-Oroua School Committees’ Association and Air C. S. Trask was appointed delegate to .the Dental Clinic | Committee.