FEILDING AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6843, 22 February 1929, Page 3

FEILDING AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL

BOARD OF MANAGERS.

The Board of Managers of the Feilding Agricultural High School met on 'Wednesday night, Mr. A. H. Atkinson presiding. There wore also present Messrs H. Mclntyre, O. Aldis, W. W. Andrews, E. Brewer, A. Campbell, A. J. Kellow and Mrs J. E. Barltrop.

In regard to the school accounts which were received back from the Audit office certified as being correct, the Audit department questioned the overdraft in the hostel and farm accounts, pointing out that such wore not permitted by law. It was explained that the position was due to the policy of tho board in kcc-ping separate accounts for the school ,the hostel and farm. If the accounts were grouped into one the overdraft would disappear. Consideration was given to ways and means of overcoming tho difficulty and io was decided to defer action pending a report from the finance committee. In a discussion on the school baths project, Mr Kellow mentioned that the funds raised to Gate for the baths totalled £278, which, with tho government subsidy, would make the total in hand just over £SOO. The estimated cost of a ba.th, constructed to plans obtained by Mr. J. Knight, was round about £BOO. Tho board felt that the baths could be built for less than this figure, and Mr Andrews urged that no further delay should be permitted •in making a commencement with the work. It was mentioned that Mr. Knight was obtaintx.g another plan and the Principal was authorised to make inquiries for plans and estimates. He reported that three years ago, 'when tenders were called for the work, the estmate for A suitable bath was round about £6OO. The committee is to go into the matter at an early date. In speaking to the library committee’s report, Mr Mclntyre stressed the valuable assistance given the committee by Mr. K. Ross, M.A., and explained to the board that the list of books drawn up had been carefuly prepared under the advice of those qualified to direct the studies of tho scholars in literature. The committee sought a grant from the board, limited to £2O, but it was anticipated that, with donations and the subsidy thereon, the board might not be called upon to subscribe anything.—The report was adopted.

Principal's Report,

In Ms report to the board, the principal (Mr. L. J. Wild) stated that the school reopened on February sth, the roll number being 197, one more than the number at opening last year. The new pupils enrolled number 88, whicfl is six more than last year. They comprise 47 from town schools, 19 from country schools and 22 from schools outside the district. The now boys como from a wide area, Eargavilie, Waitara ,and Wairoa being extreme points. Of the 49 now boys, 33 are taking the agricultural course, and 16 the professional course; while of the new girls 21 are taking the commercial and 6 the home science, and 12 the professional course. Boarders number 36, one more than at the beginning of last year. These include 16 new boys, tbe number leaving last year being greater than usual. The question of accommodation is due for consideration again, somo classes have still to be taken in the staff room, the preparation room, or in a cloak room . The common room at the school house is in regular full-time use as a class room, a most unsatisfactory arrangement. Moreover, the fact that we have still to use the domestic science room at the Technical college involves the disadvantages of much travelling, loss of time, and difficulty of supervision. To provide at all satisfactorily for the present number of pupils, we require an additional classroom and a room for house-crafts. At the sanio time for the development of the agricultural courso we need a building for animal husbandry and provision for instruction and practice in working in wood and metal. The hot, dry weather is fine for practice and instruction in swimming, but we have to share thetown baths with the other schools, whereby both our own opportunities and those of the other schools are restricted. A holiday was token on February 6 for the Feilding show. Mr. A. Thomson, headmaster ot the Southern Provincial school, Suva, visited us on February 11 and gave an address to pupils on his country and his work. I am planning to have, during this term, a series of addresses from prominent citizens who will give pupils their views on various aspects of citizenship. In regard to the more comprehensive aspects of government, I wish to place on record a very much appreciated address on Parliament given at the end of last year by Mr. Gordon Eliott.—Received.