SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 7

SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Schools’ Committees’ Association of Otago was held in the Returned Soldiers’ Club Room last night. The president (Mr C. A. Lucas) was in the chair, and some 38 delegates were in attendance. The President, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, said the roll number of delegates had remained the same as last year. Three committees had resigned and three others had joined. The annual school committee elections this year had been somewhat tame. This was probably due to some extent to people’s minds being occupied with the Exhibition. The South Inland Federation of School Committees had held its conference in Dunedin this year during the Exhibition period. Another feature in connection with the Exhibition was the visit of school children from all over the Dominion. Between 8000 and 9000 children had visited Dunedin during the time the Exhibition was open, and the manner in which they were attended to and catered for reflected_grcat credit on Messrs J. Wallace, W. H. Steele, L. Sanderson, J. C. H. Somerville, and*mem bers of the Billeting Committee. The good work performed by this committee had been appreciatively referred to all over the Dominion. Several remits had been dealt with by the executive during the year. One concerned the closing of schools on wet afternoons. Mr W. H. Steele * d done good work on the Technical College Board of Management as the association’s representative. Praise was due to Mr J. T. Roberts, who had performed yeoman service as hon. secretary and treasurer of the association The balance showed that the association had a substantial credit balance in hand. •—(Loud applause.) Mr A. T. M‘lndoe. in seconding the adoption of the report and balance sheet, eulogised the services rendered by Messrs Somerville, Sanderson, and the executive and made special reference to the work done by the Billeting Committee. Mr Garth Gallaway, referring to school committees, said it was apparent that as time went on less and less interest was being taken in the work. He did not blame householders for failing to attend the annual election of committees, as their powers were gradually being filched from them. It appeared as if their duties were only to collect money to carry on the work of the school.— (“Hear, hear.”)

Mr D. C. Cameron, jun., said he wished to dissociate himself from the remarks made by the previous speaker. The school committees were doing magnificent work, and what was of the most importance, they were creating the right atmosphere. Mr W. R. Smith paid a tribute to the members of outlyingr committees, some of whom had come long distances to attend meetings. The motion for the adoption of the report and balance sheet was carried. Mr L. D. Ritchie, on behalf of the St. Clair School Committee, moved—- “ That a conference of the Education Board, the High Schools’ Board, and the Technical College Board be held with a view to arranging for the synchronising of the midwinter holidays.” He said it was certainly very awkward that the holidays did not synchronise, especially for parents who had holidays resorts to visit. He felt that these difficulties could be overcome if a little harmony existed. Mr W. H. Steele seconded the motion. Mr J. Wallace said that no man fought more strongly for the synchronising of holidays than he did. This year he got mixed up with regard to the holidays, and informed the High Schools’ Board wrongly. He therefore pleaded guilty to the difficulty which had arisen. He made this explanation with a view to avoiding a flow of oratory. Mr J. H. C. Somerville said he questioned whether a conference would do any good. The difficulty was all due to the Winter Show. Mr L. Sanderson said he was inclined to agree with Mr Somerville. The Education Board could easily arrange with the town schools as to the date of the midwinter holidays, and the country schools could easily arrange theirs. A difficulty lay with the Railway Department in insisting on a 14 weeks' term, otherwise concessions could not be given. Mr Ritchie having replied, the motion Jras put to the meeting and carried. Mr H. MTntosh moved that the matter m protesting against the 6 per cent, re-

duction from school committee allowances in cases where committees provide janitors' residences be left in hands of the executive.—Mr Begg seconded the motion, which was strongly supported by Mr W. Wright, who claimed to have been the first to bring the matter forward. The motion was carried. The Caversham School Committee wrote protesting against the regulation with reference to the transfer of a teacher holding much lower grading marks than others who would apply if the position were advertised.

Mr L. Mercier, in moving the substance of the letter as a remit, said the Caversham Committee had not lost anything by the transfer which had occasioned the trouble, but the principle was strongly objected to. He moved that the matter be referred to the incoming executive. . This was seconded by Mr J. G. Weir and carried.

It was resoked that the meeting approve of the recommendation of the Portobello Committee that, if possible, proficiency examinations lie he’d at all schools so as to avoid candidates having to sit away from their own school. It was also decided that the matter be referred to the inspectors. The following office-bearers were elected: President. Mr A. T. MTndoe; vice-pre-sident. Mr D C. Cameron, jun.; secretary and treasurer. Mr J. T. .Roberts (re-elected); committee —Messrs W. Mackay, L. Sanderson, J. A Armit, W. Ripley and J. H. C. Somerville. Mr W W*right moved that the executive take into consideration the question of better provision for the appointments of relieving teachers in lieu of teachers who go abroad on the exchange list. Mr Sanderson said he did not see how the difficulty was to be got over. Mr Somerville said he thought the difficulty might be got over by appointing a relieving teacher for the period the teacher was abroad. Mr Wright, in reply, said the matter was not being handled in a businesslike way H“wa' not fair to the children. The motion was carried. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Ritchie, that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded the retiring officers. In doing so he paid special reference to the services rendered by Mr Lucas and Mr St«ele. This wAs seconded by Mr F. G. Cumin ing and carried