ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 5 May 1914, Page 6

ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES

MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS. NELSON CITY. The annual .meeting of householders for the purpose of electing a School Committee tor the ensuing year was held in the Provincial Hall last evening. There was a crowded a:ieiidair. e, including the member? of the old t»m ■oilttee. ""Mr H. Baigent was \oted t;> the chair, and commented on the large number present. which indicated an interest in educational matters. The secretary of the Committee (Mr R. Gilbert) read the annual report. ANNCAL IJKPOIJT. •'ln presenting the annual report and balance-sheet, vour Committee ha-- to report a satisfactory year. The attendance at the various schools throughout the year has been good, and shows a very* slight decrease on the previous year, the figure* being 91.2 per cent this Year against 91.4 per < ent last vear. * The total at present on the rolls is 1185, being 637 beys and 548 girls. -Dur'n<' the vear several alterations have taken place in the teaching start. pnd vour committee regrets to report the loss of such old and valued teachers as Mr Worley and Mi.-s Bond, who have retired on superannuation. The vacancies have been filled by Mr Irwin. ■well-known in the district for his interest in school work and-the weltare ot his pupils, and Miss Farnie. who comes to us direct from the training college with exceptional testimonials. "With, a view to keeping m clor-er touch with school requirements, etc... three sub-committees were appointed earlv in the vear, and were each allotted, two schools. The attention of each sub-committee was directed parucularlv to. the schools in its division, and periodical reports were made to the rreneral committe. The result has proven! most satisfactory, and has benefited the whole of the school district to a considerable extent. As a result/of thenlabours several marked improvements and alterations have been _ brought about, amongst which may be mentioned : .. . "Ventilation Girls" Central School.— The svstem installed here has proved "to be "inadequate in the summer months. and on the recommendation of ycur committee has been submitted to an architect for alteration. "The accommodation at Hampdenstreet has oeen for some time insurhcient, and application has now been made to the Government for an increase. Extensive repairs and altera tions have been made at the Havenroad- school, and the drainage system at the Girls' l/entral and Tasman-streei has been improved. ■ "The opening of a full school at lahuna affected to a small degree the city schools, and the decision of trie board. on the recommendation of your committee., to establish a side school at the Port, will no doubt have beneficial _results', especially to the younger <-ii:Ul-

ren. "The Inspectors* reports show mat the general standard of school work is good" and that the duties of the t.-ach-ers are being well carried out. "A rather serious outbreak of diphtheria, was experienced during the year at Hampden-street, but- your committee took every precaution to check in fee- i tion. The school was thoroughly disinfected and a renort obtained from the Health Officer. The school and outbuildings were found to be scrnpulously clean, and. the opinion was expressed that the epidemic probably originated from the open ditches in To: Toi-strett and Hampden-street. The Council was _ written to. and as a result-these places have since been attended to. "The allocation of school holidays a<'ain gave your -committee serious trouble. Last year it was found' that three weeks' hop-picking was apparently inadequate. as numbers of children absented themselves for a longer period. This year a trial was given to five*«sweeks at hop-picking. "Although this may prove beneficial to parents, it has been found to seriously handicap school work. The teachers' examinations, which are held early in January." commenced just as the school reopened. Consequently there vjere insufficient teachers at the schools to carrv on the school work, with the result that the infant department had to be closed for. a further period. "An exhaustive report- on all schools was recently prepared by a sub-com-mittee appointed for the put pose. The principal feature of the report was the need of painting the interiors of practically all'tlte city schools. The matter was placed before the board, and as a Tesult the Brook-street school is to be taken in hand immediately, and the other schools will receive consideration. "For the purpose of supplying hou.-e----holders with further information it has been decided in future to publish, the Teport an-d balance-sheet and circulate amongst householders. "In conclusion your committee would urge parents to send their children re-n-ularlv to school, as regular attendance not only benefits the individual, but the school as a whole." The report, und balance-sheet were adopted. The latter showed a credit balance of £24 13s Bd. Mr E. E. Boyes. as Chairman of the outgoing Committee, said the members had clone ,their best during their term ■ of office. He referred to the loss of the valued services by retirement of Miss' Bond and Mr "VYorley from the teaching staff, and he was sure no teachers had dor.e more for his children than those two teachers. (Hear. hear). He threw out the suggestion that their services should be recognised' by the public in a more tangible form. The speaker, in passing paid a tribute Fe went on to refer to the action of the committee in granting an extended to the work done bv the teaching staff. period for hop-picking to meet the convenience of hon-pickcrs. Referring to the difficulty in connection with pupil teachers' examinations, he stated that under the new system of holidays they were better treated than during the summer vacation than formerly. lie quoted from the Inspector.-' report in proof that tlv:- work of the children h-'B not been interfered with by the granting of those holidays. He hoped that if any teachers were present they would jgive th»:r experience of the hop-pick-ing holidays. Before sitting <lown. Mr Boyes thanked the members of the outgoing Committee, for the support ac-ci-M-rled him during the year. Mr J. K. Johnston took exception <<• the remark made by the chairman that

Fro-p. an indifferent piano you can onlv rxnect indifferent rr.usic. Even the most brilliant musician letiuires a good instrument, otherwise his efforts are r.t best only second rate—he lack«= delicaev of expression and fails in lone. A geil piano is not necessarily an experts l-"C--one : the Cottage piano of to-day is bett •/ th l i thet dan,] of yesterday. We .nvi r ' ;ios which arp moderate in price. •>:- Qi:i? ; te in tone, handsome in appears i~>. ,■»-■■) o." rem ark able durability. Th •"» . cost from thirty-eight to fifty ti > e gt'ineas. and renresents the highest : - .•lopment in piano construction. T 1 <•-.. are made by skilled workmen, from '.<- pendable materials, and are instruments which cannot fail to give the utmost satisfaction and pleasure. Don't for_- l o-ir easy time pavment system. Th:Dresden Piano Company. Wellington : North Island Manager. Mr M. J. Brookes. Local Representative : Alfred Jlobjnsop.*

thc committee had received' n mandate from householders to gi\e- bop p'eking holidays, lie denied tliat this wns so, as ai liie annual meeting last xcur a- motion moved by him in this connection had not been given opportunity of being put. He intended- to move a motion iit a later stage of ;he proceedings.

Mr MeConchie, a member of the outgdiv.z committee., explained in connection with a paragraph in the i epoi t retVrring to an outbreak of diphtheria, said that an investigation had disclosed .that the. sanitary arrangements at the schools had nothing to do with the outbieak.

Ti;e report was adopted/, and a vote of thanks accorded the retiring committee.

Mi- Johnston then m ived "That this meeting recommend that the School Committee revert to the old system of holidays in vogue, previous to the adoption of the hop-picking holidays." Anions the reasons for moving this were that the system of promotion of the children were not in their best interests, and that by the market beinsr flooded, the earnings of pickers were reduced by 30 per rent. The conditions under which the, hop-pickers were accommodated were also bad. and he contended that if the same state of things prevailed in the squatters' shearing sheds prosecutions would follow. Mr Ingram said he had previously been in favour of hop-picking holidays, but- now he was against it. as it meant the introduction of child labour.

Mr MeConchie said the meeting, although a large one. was not fully representative of householders, and he moved an amendment that the. committee elected that evening take a first referendum on the matter.

This was seconded by Mr Wimsott, who combatted the statement made by Mr Johnston in regard to the accommodation made for hop-pickers. He said tli3t Mr Johnston was talking of matters years ajo.

In replying. Mr Johnston sa : d he was speaking "of "matters which ipciindi last season. He ha<.l children there-. and he knew. He contended that tli- hop-in-dustrv should pay a living wage. An" individual." who had been interjecting frequently, again interrupted, and was met with cries of "Throw him out,"" "It is the hops talking." (Laughter). The chairman hoped the hop-picking holidays would not be interfered with. Tn reply to Mr Johnston, the secretary said that 614 ballot papers had been sent out. of which 460 had been returned, showing 283 for the proposal trd 177 against. Mr Boyes seconded the amendment. Tn reply to Mr Andrews. Mr Boyes said he understood the arrangement of pupil teachers' examinations was in the bands of the Inspect or-C.er.eral of Schools. Mrs Field suggested that if ether Mr or Mr Knapp were present they -houH five their experiences on the the hon-nicking holidays. Mr C.ihbs. from'the body of the hnll. =aid he would be very pleased to. but a; the fame time he did not think that a fair question, because la:-t year very cowardly attacks were made on the teachers <.f the town schools in this conr.eeticn. who were accused of being the proposal and bringing undue influence to bear on the. children. But the accusations were so contemptible that perhaps they were unworthy of notice. He wet on to say that on* of the present difficulties in connection with the hop-picking holidays, were the examinations held in January. In some years it would be impossible to carry on the schools. It was erroneously stated that only pupil teachers sat for examination at this time, but other teachers had als.o to sit for examinations in some years. He believed that if the teachers studied their personal convenience they would be in favour of the present .arrangement. He must candidly admit, however, that on the whole the present system of holidays was detrimental to school work.

Mrs Field said that the. hop-picking hol'days were not in the interests of the children, and the first point to be considered was what was best for the children-? The schools were carried ou for the sake of the children, and surely parents were willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the young ones. The amendment w«j,s then put and declared carried on the! voices On becoming the substantive motion it was also carried in the same way.

Messrs Heath. Andrews, and Burn were appointed scrutineers for the election of the new committee, for which the following nominations were received :—Mesdames T. Field, C. Graham, Revs. J. H. MacKenzie and J. P. Kempthorne. ard Messrs E. Boyes. A. Win-.sett. •A. Karsten. J. A. Stringer, S. "Win. G. Stewart, S. Rolling worth, W. McConchie. J. K. Johnstone. YV. Doyle. G. Batchelor, C. Cotton. J. N. Easdale, "W. "Wilkiiv. "Nine, were needed to constitute the committee.

Before the vote was taken, Mr G. Stewart, one of the candidates, briefly addressed the meeting, stating that one of his chief reasons for offering himself for nomination was to see that. all things being equal. teachers in the Board's service got preference over outsiders.

„'\t 12.30 a.m. the scrutineers returned with the result of the ballot, as follows : E. E. Boves 223 . S. Win " 185 J. A. Stringer 178— "W. McConchie 168 G. Stewart " 162 Ber. J. H. MacKenzie 146 A. Wimsett 138 J. X. Easdale 132 - A. Karsten 116 Mrs Field 110 Rev. J. P. Kempthorne 101 Mrs C. Graham 91 "VY. Dovle ■ 85 G. Batehelor . 82 J. K. Johnston 59 J. W. Treacher 56 - C. Cotton 36 H. YYilkeus 36 S. Rollings worth 32

Votes of thanks were passed to the scrutineers and to the chairman, and the meeting terminated.

MEETING OF NEW COMMITTEE. The new Committee met immediately after, v. hen .Mr Roves was re-elected chairman, and Mr Oilbert was re-elected as secretary. It was resolved to meet r.n the Monday evening preceding the Education Hoard's meeting, at half-past seven. APPLEBY. At a meeting of the hou.-eholders of Appleby last evening the following school committee was elected :—Messrs I). O'Connell. J. Shirtelitf, A. Thomas, P. Hammond, R. Satherley, R. O'Connor. 11. Campbell, chairman, secretary, aiul treasurer. TAHUNAXIT. A large and representative meeting of householders met in the schoolroom. Raw b'ti-stn-et, to elect a school committee for the year. Mr A. Dunn was vnterJ to the chair. The report and

bnlancrshrel were submit led and adopted. Vntosol' thanks were passed to the out-going committee, also tlie teachers, who were eulogized in well chosen woros by Mr K. Edridge. It was noted that the additions to the school Mere nearly i-unipk'ted. and this will he much appreciated- when finished by teachers and scholars. The roll is 64, an increase in six months of 19. A larger number of nominations being made than the number of members required, -i ballot was taken. resulting as follows :—- Messrs E. Edridge. G. T. Robins. \V. J. Phillips. J. K. Wells. A. V. Wells, A Dunn, H Rutted Mr Edridge was elected chairman and Mr H Ruff ell secret arv and treaurer

WAKAPUAKA

The meeting of houeholders of the Suburban North School district was held at the Hillside Schoolroom, there being a very fair number of householders present. The report audi balancesheet (which revealed a- credit balance of jo 9 lis 3d) was read and adopted. The election of the new committee resulted as follows :—Messrs Arthur Dodson (chairman), John Barnes (secretary and treasurer), H. O. Frost. Chas. Withers. J. E. Packer, E. W. Frost, and John Corder. Votes of thanks were passed to the auditor audi the retiring members of the committee. Messrs W. H. Alborough, R. C. Withers, and A. Stagg. -MOTUEKA. The following have been elected for the Motueka School Committee :—Messrs G. J. W. Bound v (chairman). P. G. Moffatt. E. C. Duncan, J. H. Rankin. K. H. lkulden, L. A. Boycs, I). Goodall. I-wXHTLL SCHOOL. At a meeting of householders the bal-ance-she* t was read and adopted, and the following new committee were duly elected for the ensuing year : —Messrs P. Higgins (chairman), J. McKenzie, A. Kerr. W. G. Syder, T. Fenmr.or, A. Godbaz. and J. W. Thomas (secretary md treasurer). WAKEFIELD AND PIGEON VALLEY. The annual meeting of householders for the purpose of hearing the annual recoil an <lthe election of a school committee to represent Wakefield and Pigeon Valley was held in the school, Wakefield, last night. Mr F. 11. Durbridge being -ot-ed to the chair. Th?re were 31 present. The secretary (Mr Mcßride) read the minutes of last year's meeting. —Carried. Then followed the annual report and balance-sheet.—Adopted unanimo'usv as read. The chairman said the committee. | householders, and teachers were deeplyindebted to Major Franklyn and Mr H. T. Harris (members of the Board) for assistance rendered during the year. A !ot of repairs, gravelling, drainage, oainting. etc.. had been carried out by the Board. (Applause). Major Franklyn replied to the hearty | vote of thanks given and carried unarii-i mouslv.

The se rt-tary read the sin plom-?nt re the regulation "as to attendance, for the benefit of the householders present. This was followed bv the copy of Inspector "oilman's drainage rcpoit boing read. Then came the Inspectors" reports and t'eadmai-ter's report, all of which were duly passed. Thanks to the retiring committe-? were given by those present, and ■also by the headmaster. A ballot for this year's committee resulted in the following being duly elected : —Messrs F. H. Bnrbridg? (chairman and treasurer) .'re-elected). M. Mcßri-de (secretary). Shuttleworth. C. A. Baigertt. W. Wilkens. E. McPherson, and W. C. Douglas. ut The meeting was most orderly throughout.

The committee met immediately after wards. A vote of thanks to the chairman clos xl the meeting.

Our postmaster left over a wi'i'k ago'. Did his place was temporarily filled byMr Price, from Nelson. The new postmaster, Mr Noake, with his wife and familv, arrived last Fridav, when he took up his new position and duties. Mr Noake comes from Naseby (Otago). The Draughts Club are about to start '.heir winter's session in the Oddfellows' Hall. I believe the 7th is their first cnpetinpcThe Harmonic Society is also *y> commence si. •-tlv. but due noti e will be •liven in ;:oed time by advertisement.

RICHMOND. At the annual meeting of householders about 60 were present, Mr T. Bell being in the chair. The report and balancesheet were read by Mr \Y. D. Harkness. The report reviewed the work of the committee for the past year, mentioning. inter alia, the improvement made by the cn'iameinent of one < f the classrooms. The balance-sheet, which was made nn to February 28th. showed a fair credit balance, but this will be materially reduced when accounts for March and ' April are oaid. Before askine for nominations. Mr Bell mentioned the success of the school in the scholarship examination, and paid i tribute to the staff fr;r the general organisation. His remarks were seconded bv Mr Price, who, as a weekly visitor to the school, stated that he had observed with ere at, pleasure the excellent discipline and tone prevailing. The vote < f thanks to the staff was carried with acclamation, the headmaster acknowledging same. Nine, nominations were received, ard the following were elected :—Messrs W. D. Harkness, J. Hunt. F. Wilkes, L. Button. J. E. P>arham, H. Croucher. and R. Hunter. This i-- praothally the former committee, with the exception of Mr Sutton, who replaces Mr T. TJollnnd, the latter not seeking re-election A voto of thanks to the chairman and to the scrutineers (Messrs Olen and Chisnalll concluded the meeting. At the subsequent meeti.iv.>- of tho committee Messrs Hunt and Harkness wero re-elected chairman and s:v. retary respectively. STOKE.

There was a good attendance of householders at the 'annual Tiieetinu held last oveniiiir. Mr ,7. A. Mitch.-11 was voted to the chair. The lenrrf shewed that in sn:te of a great deal of sickness, the schcol had had a vc-rv successful year. The balancesheet presented showed the finances in a satisfactory- condition. The following were elected a committee for the ensuing year- —Messrs A. P. Al'ooit (chairman). 'P. Ching f'-ecretary an<l - Frost. Leslie Reynolds, D. Oiblin. Hesnli'tii.'n" were imanimonslv passed : (1) Askimr the Rnard to enlarge the scho< 1 bui'diii"-. (2< opposing the present svstem of technical education in Nelson as applied to tin- count iv children. Heart v vot-s of thinks were accorded the auditor (Mr Jcllvman). tie staff of the K .-ho. 1. viz.. Mr D. H. Wilmot. E. Hill, and Miss (1. M. CVokc, and th = retiring committee.

A vote 4.i" Hunk* to the chairman ccn cludtd the meet in"-.

GREAT [NTF.REST AT AITKLANH. WOMEN ELECTED To COMMITTEES. AI.'CKLAND. This Day. Extraordinary interest was taken in the- school committee (-lections, which resulted-in crowded meetings for the city and suburban schools. This was owing' to the activity of the Civic League, which nominated women for various districts. The League succeeded in securing representation on the city and several suburban commit tecs.

WOMEN ON SEVEN CANTERBURY COMMITTEES. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A feature of the school committee elections yesterday was the appointment in seven cases ot women as members. They were mainly nominated on behalf of the W.C.T.U.

"We have a lot of widows on our books." said the Commissioner at Wednesday's meeting of the. Auckland Crown Lands Board in granting the application of a widowed applicant for a section. "Such neglect is almost criminal." says Mr T. Shields, of W'elingtoii. in referring to the fact that there are no public baths at either Palmerston or Fox ton. Mr Shields" is an enthusiastic swimmer, and- an ardent advocate of the methods taught by the Royal Life Saving Society. Recently he paid a visit to Feilding. taking with him two small boys, and the trio gave a demonstration which attracted considerable, attention. The baths were crowded. Mr Shields states that great success had,attended the establishment of baths at Feilding. Consequently, he urges the necessity of similar establishments at Palmerston and Foxtnn. In speaking to a "Post" reporter Mr Shields drew attention to the fact that many lives are lost annually by drowning in the Manawatu district, and many such accidents. he states, are caused through the lack of a little easily-acquired knowledge. He urges very' strongly the need of public baths in the, towns mentioned. In other localities the need, has been recognised, but. there still remain a few places which have been neglected.

T!v steamer Monowai lias had an eventt'ul career, the latest incident beinc the housing c ,f 300 cadets nt Duiiediii mi Mondav evening. This is the third occasion on which the. Monowai has been ■used as a- ''boardinghous-e,'' the two former occasions being during the Melbourne and Auckland maritime strikes, when the vessel was used to house new unionists. It will b? remembered als< that about 11 vears ago the Monowai brckc her tail-shaft when off the south c-oast of New Zealand, and after bemr it the mercy of the waves for six days vas taken in tow. by the Mokoia. Oi-t of 697 trees struck by lightning ; r. the forests near Moscow, 302 were white poplar. Therefore Russian farmers have bsen advised to plant poplars •\s natural lightning conductors. After the hurricane of January last ■Writes the Aitutaki correspondent of the Auckland "Herald") this island has oten suffering from a scarcity of breadtruit. The main commodity was ail riestroved, and the kumaras planted have been <k>stroved by caterpillars. Thus the inhabitants have had. principally to depend on imported necessaries such as rice, flour, biscuits, etc. About 70 tons cf copra are to be despatched by the steamer Talune in A mil. It is rumoured that the steamer will not call here again for three months. A small quantity of copra is vet to be made, and the fruit (oranges." etc.) will not be matured until dulv'and August. Very small shimments will' be available even then. The tradprospects for "the year are not at all promising.