TEACHERS CONFER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6844, 25 February 1929, Page 2

TEACHERS CONFER

ANNUAL MEETING OF MANAWATU BRANCH N.Z.E.I. Tho annual meeting of the Mauawatu branch of the New Zealand Edu[cational Institute was held on S:.; day, Mr. H. P. Gabites, president, presiding until the new president, Mr. P. W. Moore, was elected. 1 Annual Report. Tho management committee reported a most successful year of activity with l membership well maintained. The total was 111 as against 115 for the provious year but 20 had been transferred from ’ the branch while only 8 had been transfered to the branch. The balance sheet disclosed a healthy financial position with a credit of £SO. The New Zealand Education Institute had increased the annual levy by 5/- pe: member entailing upon tho branch the expenditure of an additional £27/15/per anum. To meet this extra expense the committee was compelled to recommend an increaso in subscriptions for a like amount. Mr. P. Campbell was elected delegate to the New Zealand Educational Institute and ably represented the branch. Mr. W. E. Hird was elected teachers’ advocate to tho Grading Appeal Board and he deserved the best thanks of the branch for his able work in this connection. Tho branch honoured in having one of its members, Mr. W. A. Swinbourn, elected president of tho New Zealand Headmasters’ Association. The committee recognised the value to education of stimulating an interest in this important subject on the part of the public. Much had been done, but much still remained to be accomplished. Thanks were due to the High School board of governors and director of the Technical School for use of rooms for meetings, and to Mr. A. W. Thompson for work as auditor. The committee also placed on record its appreciation of the enthusiastic work of the secretary, Mr. G. H. Espiner.

The president added his personal ap preciation of the way Mr. Espiner had carried out his secetarial duties.

Mr. Swinbourn informed the meeting that in addition to himself as president in the Primary Schools Headmasters' Association, there were in Palmerston [North also the secretary (Mr. P, W. Moore) and committeemen in the persons of Messrs. E. Bary and A. W. Thompson.

Election of Officers.

President, Mr. P. \V. Moore (West End); vice-president, Mr. P. <J, Campbell; management committee, Messrs. W. A. Swinbourn, H. P. Gabites, J. Galland, E. Bary, Mrs. Eggcrs and Miss Chapman; auditor, Mr. A. W. Thompson; representative to the Central committee, Mrs. Eggcrs, Messrs. P. C. Campbell and E. Bary; delegates to N.Z.E.J. conference (nomination only), Mr. W. A. Swinbourn and Mrs. Kendall; teachers' advocate to Grading Appeal Board, Mr. W. A. Swinbourn; secretary, Mr. G. H. Espiner. On the motion of Mr. P. C. Campbell, it was decided to frame a remit for conference urging that steps be taken to secure the benefits of the superannuation scheme for those teachers who were unable, for various reasons, to become subscribers to the fund under the present regulations. Purther remits, if any, will be framed by the management committee, upon receipt of suggestions from tho several branches of the service, on or before March 9.

Mr. Campbell also urged that stops should bo taken to make the official organ “National Education," of moro service to the teachers so that it can take the place of a private publication that teachers were now subscribing to. It was decided to draw tho attention of the N.Z.E.I. executive immediately to tho matter.

The secretary (Mr. Espiner) was accorded a vote of thanks for his services and the meeting decided to grant him a bonus of £5 in addition to his honorarium. Teachers Out of Work.

Tho meeting also decided to ask the Institute to do something for those teachers who were out of work. Tho president stated that at West End school there was one class with 72 pupils and an assistant was badly needed, while there were a number out of work. No doubt an assistant would bo sent on March 1, but meantime the teacher in charge had to labour with that large number of pupils through the present hot weather. It seemed that the Department was trying tc save a month's salary.