TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4311, 21 March 1901, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

PROMISCUOUS HOLID AY-M AKIK G. ■, A brisk discussion took place at the meeting of the Education Board yesterday in reference to the complaint of a parent that “a dementia for holiday-mak-ing” was playing havoc with the intelligence of the children attending the Tliorndon school, and pointing out that on Monday last that was the only school in the city “Which closed its doors 1 and turned its children cut to idle in cho streets.” Mr Buchanan moved ; and Mr Hog® seconded, "That one day s pay bo deducted from the teachers of the Thorndon school to mark the Board’s disapproval of the closing of the school on .Monday. 18th instant, without the sanc-tion-of the Board.” Mr Blair said Mr 'Mowbray, tho headmaster of the, school, ■ had communicated with him, telling him that tho committee had authorised a holiday, and asking him what he should do. He replied that he could not accept the responsibility of advising in the matter, but had instructed the Board’s scc- !■ rotary, if applied to, not to grant a per-- " mit. Other members thought it would he unfair to punish tho teachers bccaute of the action of the committee. _ Mr Robertson pointed out that the majority of the members of the Tliorndon School Committed were Civil servants. They “kept all the Saints’ Days themselves, and liked their children to dc so.” U was pointed out that their practice of giving so many holiday was resented by tho teachers, and had led to- something like a vendetta between Mr Mowbray and some of tho committeemen. The membelrs of the Bear'd expressed a determination to put down promiscuous holiday-making of the kind complained of, and finally passed a resolution that in future one day’s pay would ho deducted from .the salary of each teacher ! on the staff of any school which js given holiday without tho permission of- the j Beard.

WOODVILLE’S WANTS. Mr O’Meara waited cm the Minister and General Manager of Railways yesterday respecting the erection of creosote works at Woodvillo. The Minister stated that, the promise given to Mr O’Meara List year that these works would he erected at Woodvillo would bo fu). filled. The attention of the Minister and General Manager was also > called to the necessity of an, overhead bridge from the Woodvillo side to the railway platform at that place. Mr Ward stated this work would be included in the schedule of necessary works to ho carried out next year, "and instructions would also' ho issued to have seats placed on the Pahiatua 'Railway platform, The question of a new post office at villo was also brought under the notice “ of tho Minister. It was pointed out that the present structure was mu sightly,insanitary and unsuitable,and the accommodation insufficient for a town of the dimensions and population, of Woodville. Mr OlMaha, ooixsiders the. Postmaster-General’s' nPly a satisfactory one, and anticipates .'the erection of a new post office after .Parliament has provided the necessary funds nest year. Mr O’Meara pointed! out that £3OO was voted last session for tho erection of a post office at Wobcr. So far nothing had been - done, and he advocated the location of a permanent, official at that place, as it was the centre of a largo audl populous district. Mr Ward said inquiries would bo made, and he would' advise Mr (PMcara in duo course.