SCHOOL CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 16

SCHOOL CONTROL

COMMITTEE ELECTIONS MEETINGS THIS EVENING KEENER INTEREST AROUSED Tho election of school committees in tho Auckland Education' Board's district will be held at householders' meetings to-night. In the past>, elections have been held annually, but under the Education Law Amendment Act of 1933 the term of office of. committees was increased from ono year to two, and this will bo tho first of tho biennial elections. Elections will not be necessary in some instances as sovoral former committees have been elected unopposed, and in other cases the new candidates have been only sufficient to replace those not seeking office. In a number of instances where there have been insufficient nominations, those nominated will be declared elected and tho board notified of the shortage. Persons will probably then bo appointed to fill the vacant positions. 650 Committees There are no fewer than 650 committees in the Auckland board's district, and in many places where tho householders have failed to elect a committee the school has been supervised by commissioners appointed by the board. Some committees control several schools. If in any case the householders fail to elect a committee to-night they will be given another opportunity to do so three weeks later. Everv householder hi the school district is qualified to vote, and both husbaud and wife can take part both .as voters and as candidates. Where the average attendance of the school is less than 100 tho committee consists of five members, where it is between 100 and 200 there are seven members, and for schools with more than 200 there are nine members on the committee. Nominations for membership on the committees closed on April 15, but provision is made for nominations to be received at the householders' meetings in cases where tho average attendance at the school does not exceed 210.

Labour Candidates In previous years there have been small attendances of voters at meetings, and many householders have been very apathetic, but wider interest is being taken this year, and it is expected that to-night's meetings will be largely attended. A feature of the nominations this year' is the large number of Labour candidates, who in several districts make up tickets for tho nino seats. The Ponsonby seats will be contested by a Labour ticket, and keen interest will probably be taken in the meeting at Point Chevalier, where the Labour supporters will run a free bus service to the householders' meeting and poll for the benefit of voters in the district. There are 20 nominations for the nine seats.