MAUNGAKARAMEA

Northern Advocate, 15 November 1929, Page 7

MAUNGAKARAMEA

HOUSEHOLDERS’ MEETING. A large and, representative meeting of local householders was held in the Public .Hall on Friday afternoon last. l< There were about “o parents present 1- and the chairman of the School Com--3 nxittee, Mr T. O’Carroll, presided. s Mr O’Carroll said the meeting had. been convened by the School Committee to consider the report of the ‘ School Medical Officer, Dr Champta- ‘ loup, who had recently inspected the children. r The chairman then called upon the 5 secretary of the School Committee, Mr ‘ W. H. Gillingham, to read the report. Tt dealt with the school cleaning, and ! physical condition of the children. which the doctor considered was not ‘ at all satisfactory. Almost all the boys and a number of the girls impress--1 ed the doctor as being unfit to carry out the full programme involved by their day’s work, and it wqs evident that the task of milking and coming long distances to school was too much for some, of the children. Among the suggestions made to improve the condition of the children were the following:— (1) —That a drink of milk be supplied at lunch time, (2) —That during the lunch hour, the children remain seated while eating lunch. (3) That after lunch the children should have a short rest period when the weather is suitable. For this pur jTose each child could bring a clean sack on which to lie. 1 The chairman in referring to the - re- ‘ port said the health of the children : was not as good as one could wish it. f He made no apology for calling the < meeting as it was a matter in whicji i the committee could do very little with- ( out the co-operation of the parents, 1 , and he was very pleased to see so many ‘ present that afternoon. <■ With regard to the school cleaning, 1 the capitation grant had been cut ■ down nearly half owing to the grade ( having fallen, although there was the j same amount of work to do. With regard to the health of the children, he was of the opinion that the doctor had I struck a very bad time, as most of the children were just over a second dose t of the “fin” and, naturally, were nol r at their best physically. He thought that if the health of the children was e pot satisfactory, the mothers should he ) notified, and a suitable diet suggested, e If notification was given of the doctor’s visit, mothers could be presept f and ‘get advice. * , v

At this juncture, several parents said they had received notice that their children suffering from various 'corhplainih but on'taking them to the Whangarei doctors they had been told that their children were quite all right. Indignation was expressed by some pf the mothers present at the statement their children were ill-nour-ished and overworked, it being pointed out that now machine-milking was general there was pot nearly (the amount of hard work there may have been a few years ago. Considerable diversity of opinion was expressed in connection with the idea of each child taking a bottle of milk to school each day. The teacher, Mrs Lees, and others said it would keep sweet, while the contrary view was voiced by several parents. Mrs J. Crawford wanted .to know what was the position wifh regard to the Dental Clinic, as she thought country children were quite entitled to free treatment, as farmers had to pay perhaps more than their share to the cost of the treated town children.

Mr O'Carroll explained how the committee and the local ■'branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union had taken up the question, and he believed it would not bo long before the country schools were included in the scheme. The next bone of contention was the sack question. Mrs Loos stated that as far as she was concerned it was obligatory for the children to bring sacks but if the parents objected a note to that effect must be brought to school by the child. The sacks were not only needed for the rest period but also in connection with physical drill.

An efxtraet was read from the Auckland <c Star" stating that the headmaster of the Brixton Road School had protested against the use of sacks, as they might be the cause of pneumonia, but Mrs Lees pointed out that that school was in a low-lying area, and the same conditions did not apply to this sehbol.

After various views, for and against, had been aired, Mrs A. Adams moved, “that no sacks be allowed in connection with school children.” Mr T. Marsh seconded but the motion on being put to the meeting was defeated. The question of home lessons was raised by Mr W. H. Gillingham, who thought that if the children's health was not considered good ? that home lessons should ,be cut out. If this were done, and the children were put through a course of physical drill daily at the school, he thought it would be better for the children. Mrs Lees said she did not consider that home lessons were a hardship, as the, children were only given spellings that could be learned in 10 minutes.

The following resolutions were then carried by the meeting: Moved fby Mr Spinley and seconded by Mr W. E. Cook, “that the committee supply paper towels to the school.” Moved by Mr W. E. Cook and seconded by Mr L. Smith, “that the Minister of Health be again approached re free dental treatment for country schools.”

Moved by Mr T. O’Carroll and seconded by Mrs J. Crawford, "that this meeting requests the Health Department to notify parents of the doctor’s visit to the school, so that the mothers

of the children can be present.” Aloved iby Mr L. Smith and seconded by Mr Thomson, "that the matter of school cleaning be left in the hands of the committee.” SCHOOL JUBILEE.

The chairman, then brought to the notice of those present that the school would celebrate its golden jubilee in a short while, and he thought it would be fitting if some function could be arranged to celebrate the occasion. He thought it would be a pity to lot the occasion pass, and suggested that perhaps the old pupils should be consulted on the matter. No doubt a huge gathering would be present and a successful day eventuate. ■Those present heartily endorsed the idea and it was left to the School Committee to arrange a further meeting, if thought necessary.

BAND OF HOPE,

The usual monthly moe/ing of the members of the combined Tauraroa and Alaungakaramea Bands of Hope was held in the ’Karamea Public Hall on Friday night last. There was a good attendance and ATr W. H. Gillingham

presided. After the opening devotional exercises various musical and elocutionary items were given, and the president, Mrs W. Weir, spoke briefly on the eifect of alcohol on plant life, illustrating her remarks from a chart. The part songs 'by the school children were splendidly rendered, and on the sug gestion of the chairman, a hearty vote of appreciation, was accorded Mrs Lees, who has done so much at thp school to train their musical abilities. Other items on the .programme were rendered by, Mrs Harvey, solo, “Land of Hope and Glory;’’ recitation, “The Postman,’’ Mack Alleock; part-song, “Silent River,” school children; re. citation, Mrs Hannam; 'address, Mrs Weir; part-song, “‘Stars that gem the Trackless Sky,” school children. Games and supper brought a very eiD joyable evening to a close, PERSONA^, Mr A. 8., Miller has returned fropr his holiday trip to the Thames, Mr and Mrs J. Walker Jr. journeyed to Auckland on Saturday to obtain medical advice for their little son. Mr and Mrs Gibson’s eldest son, Robert, is home again after a stay at the Whangarei Hospital frith a broken collar ibone, Mr T. O’Carroll experienced a painful accident a few days ago when a. window sash crashed, down on his little finger and took the top off, the nail being completely torn away.