WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 257, 27 September 1940, Page 8

WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The-monthly meeting of the School Committee was held on Thursday e\ > - ing, when there were present Messrs lv H. Johnston (chairman), L. J. " hittington (secretary), A. M. Pickering J. •• Young, R. Peebles, T. Smith Harding and Rev.'B. P Williams, and the headmaster (Mr J. Sv Mcßean). A comnumication from the Education Board in r p y to the request for the appointment of a ielieving headmaster after Mr. Mcßean« departure, stated that the board thought it was in the best interests of the school o appoint a headmaster as early as possible this year, and favoured an appointment being made on-November 1. Mr H. o. ■ Quigley wrote informing the committee that the appointment was governed by departmental regulations. The board notur the committee that the school would n ■ closed on September SO, October 1 and i' while the staff attended a refresher course at Dannevirke. The board also forwar a circular outlining action planned mw® l the Emergency Precautions Scheme, wnic l included the use of schools for evacuation purposes, and stated that the commit i.e may be represented on the local Emergency Committee.—The chairman stated that some members were already on that committee In response to an appeal , trolr } the Southern Hawke's Bay Boys and Girls’ Agricultural G'lub for financial a sistance, a donation of £1 was granted. The Education Board wrote in reference to its non-liability in the event of destruction by fire of the committee s property, such as pianos or libraries, or property the full cost of which had not been borne by the Government.—lt was decided that insurance for £4O be effected on the library. In connection with the board s grant o £8 for the school library, Mr Mcßean stared that the High School library was in need of books, a list of which ho had warded to the department.-It was decided to subsidise the grant to the extent ot 10s Mr Mcßean reported for the month: Attendance: Primary, boys, 133 (average 1235) ; girls, 131 (average 123) ; total, 504 (average 264.5). Secondary boys 14; girls, 18; total 32. A-number of chddren were still absent through epidemic sickness. Miss Nelson the supernumerary teacher, lx relieving at Onga Onga. Ihe secretary reported having discussed with the architect some requirements mentioned in the nea - master’s report and also the state of the 6tormwater drainage and the heating apparatus. The architect had advised continuing with the present means of heating rather than incur heavy structural expenditure, in view of the age of the school building. The chairman having put torward the advisability of promoting -a school concert for patriotic purposes, it was decided to hold a concert during the first term Mr Young stated that owing to the milk being served at the school too late in the mornings, some children were disinclined to eat when they returned home for lunch. A rearrangement was left to Mr Mcßean. The chairman was authorised to have some noxious weeds on the echool ground eradicated. . When the business had been concluded, the chairman stated that, this being the final appearance of Mr Mcßean with the committee, he would take the opportunity of extending to Mr and Mrs Mcßean the committee’s good wishes for their future happiness and for Mr Mcßean s suecess in his new appointment. Mr Mcßean thanked the chairman and committee, and said he hoped that his associations with his next committee would be as good as they had been at Woodvillc. He stressed the importance of helpful co-operation between committee and headmaster. FARMERS’ UNION.

The monthly meeting of Southern Ilawke’s Bay provincial executive of the Farmers' Union was held at Dannevirko on Thursday, Mr J. C. Bolton presiding. Mr F, W. Blatchford initiated a discussion on a minute relating to petrol conservation, and quoted cost details which he had compiled to show that economy lav on the side of farmers doing their own carting trom railway stations. He also criticised the plying of road services alongside railways when fares did not warrant this and also the number of cars used lor attending races. The chairman pointed out that the authorities’ suggestion was not binding on members. Farmers close to a station could cart, more, economically with a suitable vehicle. The statements of other speakers indicated that economy one way or the other depended upon the size of vehicle usod by the farmer and his distance from the railway. Motions of condolence in respect of the late Mr M. W. Hartgill and the late Mr R. A. Fraser were passed. The chairman extended a welcome to Mrs Reynolds representing the Women’s Division. Correspondence, from the Dominion secretary invited concrete proposals in the matter of settling land by experienced young farmers and returned soldiers, 'this drew various comments on the previous experience and the necessity tor avoiding past mistakes. Mr N. Walding gave a reminder that no report had come from the committee appointed to deal with the subject a year ago. Mr H. Ellingham, referring to land settlement after the lastwar, indicated that some of the trouble was’due to public pressure in c-ases whore the Land Board was holding up applications and had to give way. However, some of the less * experienced men wore the most successful. Mr R. F. Gregg stated that men with the least money were the most fortunate in receiving tinancial assistance. The fault was that the land was charged for at three its value, some of it being worth only £lO per acre today. Mr Ellingham concurred with tin* view, Mr F. A. Thompson suggested the disposal of undeveloped land, on the term* of live or ten years’ free rental. He referred to suitable land in the Tukapau district which could be developed much cheaper privately than by the Government. Reference having- been made to what was known as the ‘‘Takapau policy,” Mr Quigley produced the circular whicu had been circulated last year and stated that the only reply, one of approval, excepting one suggested alteration, came from the late Mr A. E. Jull, M.P. The chairman favoured submitting this plan as a basis for discussion. It was urged by Mr Gregg that the cost of survey be borne by the Government. The meeting concurred, and on the motion of Messrs Gooch and Waldron, a motion on the lines indicated by the chairman was carried unanimously. Departmental correspondence cited regulations relating to release of public works employees for harvesting, haymaking, etc., and also facilities provided for enabling these employees to engage in such work during holidays. The chairman doubted whether many of these men would leave bettor paid, work, for farms; it was not like human, nature to do so. A member said that some local body employees would fill in holidays at farm work if they had some reassuranco that by. doing so they would not be prejudiced in their employment. On the motion of Messrs Murray and Blatchford, it was decided to circularise local bodies on the subject. NOTES. The following are members of the Woodvillc third grade Rugby team to meet the hockey football team in a game to-mor-row: —Squires, Walker, T. Burlace, Bullot? Williams, • Thompson, Cook, Fulton, McCool. Midler, Grout. Toogood. Williams, G. Buriacc. F.mergencies: T. Dooney, M. Cilmour. P. Harris. Mr D. Keay acknowledges the following additions:—Spitfire Fund: Previously acknowledged. £36 10s: J. A, Phelan. 10s; Mrs O. A. Guggenheim. £5; Mr G. R Bruere (sale of sheep), £l 9s; local, £43 9s. London Relief Fund: Previously acknowledged, £l2 Is; Anonymous, 2s 6d ; W. H. Clapcott, 2s fid; .1 A. Oxctiliani (sale of stock), £l6; “Glen,” £] 10s; total, £29 16s.