WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD

Patea Mail, Volume LIII, 20 July 1934, Page 2

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD

ORDINARY MEETING. 11 he ordinary monthly meeting of the Wanganui Education Board was ncld on Wednesday, Air. E. F. Hemingway pree iding. Messrs. Coleman', Aithon, Benefield, Munro, Oram, Dukeson, and Col. Whyte were also present. The following matters of local and general interest were considered inter alia: VALEDICTORY. The chairman said u.s this was the last meeting at which Air. Aitken would be present he would move that the board place on record its appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the cause of education in this district by Air. James Aitken, 8.A., during his 12 years’ service as a member of the board, and at the ■ sametime tender him its best wishes for his happiness in the rest he has so well and faithfully earned. “Air. Aitken,’’ said Air. Hemingway, “has a record which I believe is unique in this or any pthcr -country. He has no less than fifty and a-halt years’ service to his credit in this country and 12 years in the Home land. In addition, he has had 12 years as a member of this board, mailing a total of 021 years’ service in flic cause of education.’’ Continuing, the speaker said members would cue aaul all greatly regret his retirement. No one would be missed more from the board’s table. He would carry with him the -best wishes of them all for his future welfare and happiness. Air. Oram cmloivcd the chairman’s remarks.

Mr. Hornblow said he could support the previous speakers’ remarks with regard to Mr. Aitken. Only that day he had met a. man in the service car when travelling from Eoxton to Wanganui, who had told him there was one member of the board whom they had every reason to be proud of, and that was Mr. James Aitken. More than one prominent Wanganui resident owed the moulding of his character to Mr. Aitken. When one has been instrumental in. moulding the characters of their best citizens he had done something to be proud of.

The chairman: “He has not lived in vain.” /The resolution was carried with acclamation. Mr. Aitken. in thanking the board for its resolution, said: “On July IS, 1882, I said gcod-byc to bonnio Scotland for the first time. On July IS, 193.1, after a holiday visit, I said good-bye for a. second time. To-day is ■July IS, 1934, and now I am saying good-bye to the Wanganui Education Board. ’ ’

Continuing,'Mr. Aitken said that he was sorry to have to say that goodbye to the boi.trd, but his hearing was going, and he could not hear the jokes. (Laughter.) He was. sorely tempted to go a long way back in his memory. When he came to Wanganui in 1892, the chairman of the board had been a Hindenburg, the inspector a Hitler, and the secretary ha,d been in charge of the firing squad. The firing consisted of three months’ notice, but it was not the guns but the teachers who were vred. To-day all that was changed. The relations between (he teachers and the board were perfect peace. The board’s inspectors and the teachers were a society of friends.

Not only was .ho sorry to sever his connection with the board, but ho was also sorry to say good-bye to the stuff, continued Mr. Aitkcn. In his 12 years’ association with them, there had not been one unpleasant incident. He would miss going to the office in the morning to sign away a few hundred pounds, and he believed that during the past 12 years he had signed away in cheques nearly half a million pounds. Mr. Aitken also paid a tribute to the chairman, Mr. Hemingway. He said he could remember six chairmen, and he could say that if there were any other education boards who hp,d a better' chairman than Mr. Hemingway, then.they were very lucky. Mr. Aitkcn. will be 80 years’-of' -age next April.

The, chairman., said this was the last meeting of the board as at present constituted at which he would preside, and lie would like to take the opportunity of tendering members his sincere ami hearty thanks for the loyal support accorded him. He would also like to express his appreciation of the .assistance rendered him by the members of, the staff from . the highest to the lowest. The deliberations of the board had been crowned with success, and he attributed this to the fact that members obeyed the rules of debate and did not utter a superfluous word during the meetings* “It would have done your heart added the chairman, Uto; have boon at 1 the recent unveiling of a. memorial at the Buunythorpe School, and to hear an old settler in a speech declare that in the Wanganui Board they had the best Education Board in the Dominion.’’ KATANA PA. The Education Department wrote notifying flint a grant had been mode for the erection of a teacher’s residence at Katana Fa. WOODWOKK AND COOKERY. A resolution was road from a meeting of householders held at Martoii suggesting that: • woodwork and-cook-ery classes be abolished as an economy measure until things in the Dominion improve. The letter was received. GIRLS’ COLLEGE -BOARD. Airs. Wickham was re-appointed the board’s representative on the Girls’ College Board,

RATIONING .SCHEME. The Teachers’ Institute wrote stating that they did not intend any discourtesy to the beard in writing to the Department with regard to the board’s action in -connection with the payment of rationed teachers. The chairman- said he was pleased to learn that no discourtesy was intended by the institute. At the same time, he hoped that in future if the institute or anyone else had any complaint to make with regard to the board’s -administration) they would come direct to the board and not go to the Department. RESIGNATIONS. The following resignations were received and accepted. In the ease of Miss Pitcher, who had had a lengthy period of service with the board, it was decided to send her a lee to- of appreciation of her work.

Mr. Raymond L. Bradly, sole teacher, Kaitickc. Mrs. May Jewell, sole teacher, Western Rangitikei. Mr, Geoffrey H. Prince, solo teacher, Potaka Road.

Mr. Ronald M. .11. Reid, sole teacher, Orangimea. Miss Susan M. E. Pitcher, infant mistress. Aramoho.

Miss Jeannic E. Sellar, infant mis tress, Marton Junction. Miss Lorna K. Joblin, assistant Turakina.

Miss Phyllis S. Liddell, assistant, Ohingaiti. Miss Stella F. Wright, assistant, Foxton D.H.S.

Miss Alice M. Gilchrist, domestic, science instructress.

Mr. Walter 11. Scatter, relieving teacher/

Mr. Edward W. Mills', sole teacher, Ngutuwora.

Miss A. M. Ayson, role teacher, River Road.

APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were confirmed: Middle Eoad: Miss M. E. Cowles, sole teacher. Mount Richards Eoad: Miss E. W. Lancaster, sole teacher. Euatiti: Mr. J. J. McDonald, sole teacher. Tunanui Eoad: Mrs. E. E. Wilson, sole teacher. Eata-iti: Miss I. Er Greenfield, sole teacher. Wanganui Intermediate: Mr. J. B. Bennett, assistant. Kai Iwi: Miss A. M. Arson, assistant. To Arakura: Miss I. M. Carty, assistant. APPRECIATION. Letters of appreciation of the efficient and expeditious manner in which workmen effected repairs and improvements to their respective schools were received from the teachers at the Silvcrhope, Moutoa, and Kairanga Schools, The chairman said the letters were in keeping with the opinion held hy members of the board with regard to its building staff. SCHOOL LIBRARIES. It was decided to make a grant of 10s in the pound up to £3 for books purchased for school libraries and to make a special grant of £1 to the Eangataua School.

SCHOOL SAVINGS BANK SYSTEM It was adccidcd to endorse the .■chemc introduced by the Postal Department with regard to a school savings bank system far the purpose of inculcating thrift amongst the children.. M ' ! PASSENGER CAR FOR CHILDREN In response to the board’s repeated request for a car to be attached to the i p.m, Martoa-Taihape goods train for the benefit of children attending the Marton District High School, the acting manager of railways wrote stating that the request would now be granted. It was decided to thank the general manager and Mr, Edward Newman for their efforts in the matter, Mr. Aitkon suggesting that "a. double carriage be provided, one half to be for girls and the other for boys.