School Committee Elections

Southland Times, Issue 13738, 27 April 1897, Page 4

School Committee Elections

Monday, 26th April. MIDDLE SCHOOL. .- The meeting of householders for the election of a committee was presided over by Mr W. B. Scandrett; - The annual report ; of the committee, stated inter alia, that during the year the committee have held 14 meetings, which had been well attended. The number of pupils on the roll for the four quarters had' been respectively 693, 680, 664, and 655. A much needed improvement, namely, that of draining and levelling the boys’ play ground had, upon the application of the committee, been undertaken by the Board. The committee again called attention to the need that exists for parents to contribute to the maintenance funds.-as; the. subsidy received from the Board is insufficient; to defray all expenditure incurred. The contribution requested is but a small one ; it is proportioned to the number of pupils attending from each family,■■ and in no case is the amount more than 3s per quarter. Where a family is known to be in poor circumstances no contribution is requested. The amount asked for each quarter is about L2O, the average sum received for the past year has been LB. The committee could do much in the way .of carrying, out needed improvements if parents generally would attend to the voluntary fund. With a view of augmenting the funds at the disposal of the committee for special purposes an enter-tainment--was organised by the headmaster and staff, and was successfully given during the month of August, -the net proceeds amounting to LIO. With the assistance of a portion of this sum together with contributions from friends of the school, the committee were enabled to provide prizes for distribution at the close of the school in December, to the value of over Lls.' The balance sheet showed receipts: Education Board subsidies, LB3 16s lOd ; stationery fees, L 32 Ils 6d; entertainment, LIO ; prize fund donations, L 7 9s4d —total, L 133 17s Bd. The principal items of expenditure were : Cleaning, L 57 17s ; firewood, Ll 3 17s 3d ; books, stationery, etc., L 22 19s 7d; prizes, L 7 10s 3d. The committee commenced the year with a balance of LI Ils 4d and leave to their successors Ll 6 12s to begin the year with.—The chairman moved the adoption of the documents, and this being seconded by Mr Field and supported by Messrs Stirling and Smith, was put and carried. The following householders were elected members of the committee:—Messrs Stirling, Scandrett, Smith, Goldie, Barlow, Field, Birss, Mitchell, and McKenzie, and a cordial vote of thanks was recorded to the outgoing committee, chairman, and secretary, a meeting of the committee followed, when Mr Scandrett was elected chairman and Mr Stirling secretary. Tenders were ordered to be*invited for firewood and stationery for the ensuing year, PARK SCHOOL About 25 householders attended the meeting, the chair being taken by Mr J. A. Mitchell. The report read by Mr J. J. Wesney, secretary referred to. the success which had attended the school under Mr J. Hain, who had been appointed headmaster. The roll number had risen from 190 to 283 and the average attendance from 144 to 247. A great improvement was also noticeable in the behaviour of the children and the general tone of the school, the whole, justifying the action of last year’s committee in protesting against the closing of the school. The buildings had been painted, the approaches well formed, and the grounds gravelled and drained. The grounds needed fencing which' was a task for the incoming committee. The balance sheet showed a credit of L 7 7s 3d for the new committee to start with. Sympathetic reference was made to the decease of Mr Robt. Dunlop, whose services had been valuable. Mr Rabbidge had been elected in his stead. The committee had made application to the Education Board fora residence for the teacher to place the school on an equal footing with the other town schools, but so far the Board hadrefused therequest. The school was now well and efficiently equipped and it only remained for the householders in the district to give their support to make it one of the most effective and popular schools in the district. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, referred to the great progress made during the year, which proved that the school was necessary and under a continuance of existing conditions would soon need enlargement.—Mr Wesney pointed out that it only needed the householder’s cooperation to secure almost immediately the appointment of another pupil teacher and, if an average of 20 more could be kept up for six months, a second assistant.—Tr.e re; ort and balance sheet were adopted. Eleven nominations were received for the committee Messrs J, J. Wesney, J. E. Gunn, G. Challis, A. Dunlop, A. Pauli, J. E. Hawkins, VV. Spite, T. VV. Brebner, G. R. George, S. Rabbidge and W. H. Mathieson. Messrs Mitchell and Cuthbertson refused nomination and Mr Hawkins withdrew. Meesrs Wesney, Gunn, Challis, Dunlop, Spite, George and Rabbidge were elected.

Some discussion took place on the subject of the refusal of the Board to . provide a residence and the following motion was carried unanimously: “That this annual meeting of householders desires to impress upon the Education Board the grave anomaly existing in the fact that no residence is provided for the head-master of the Park School. It considers the position to be inequitable and prejudicial to the interests of the school. -Id requests the Board to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose or to make somfe other arrangement of the nature of house allowance for the head-master which will place the school on an equality in this respect with the other town schools.” A vote of thanks to the retiring members of the committee was moved by Mr R. Gunn and carried. The new committee elected Mr G. Challis, chairman, and Mr George, secretary. SOUTH SCHOOL. Fifteen householders attended the annual meeting ; Mr James Walker occupying the chair. The committee’s annual report and balance sheet were read and adopted. The report stated, with regard to the committee’s request for a new fence round the school that the Board had repaired the existing fence “after a fashion” and the necessity for a new fence was again alluded to. The Board’s refusal to do additional asphalting in front of the school except the committee bore half the cost was attributed to the members of the latter body not being “of the right colour.” Subsequently it had been decided to accept the Board’s offer to supply 12 loads of gravel and to top dress the present asphalt,on the principle that “half a loaf was better than no bread.” The difficulty between the Board and committee over the appointment of first assistant was rehearsed and the action of the former characterised as “ high-handed,” but it had been ascertained that nothing could be done to upset the decision. Mr Porteous, who had been appointed to the position, the committee were satisfied was a thoroughly competent teacher. Mr Webber’s action in encouraging the children to cultivate a taste for gardening and in taking the initial steps for the formation of a cadet volunteer corps was favourably commented' upon, as was also the general work of himself and the remainder of the teaching staff throughout the year. The balance sheet showed a credit balance on March 31st of L2 17s 4d, the actual credit balance to date being Ll 3 6s 2d. Mr Bain stated that his non-attendance at the committee meetings had been his protest against the action of the Education Board. Nominations were o died for to makeup the incoming committee, but only eight were forthcoming, and these were accordingly elected—viz., Messrs James Walker, Thos. Aitken, John Stead, John Aitken, Angus Mackay, Wm. Stead,!’. Lewis,and James Allan. Mr W. Cook having rt moved from the schcol iistrictr a hearty vote of thanks was accorded him for his services in the interests of the school during the past seven years. Votes of thanks to the teaching staff for the able manner in which the school had been conducts ’, and to the retiring committee closed the meeting. At a meeting of the newly elected com-

mittee Mr W. Stead was elected chaii man, --and Mtsjs J. Stead and Wm. Taylor treasurer and secretary respectively,