SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION

Southland Times, Issue 17347, 19 May 1913, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING, The annual meeting of the School Committees' Association was held in the Education Board's Offices on Saturday evening. Mr A. L. McCulloch occupied tlie chair in the absence of the President (the Rev. W. Grigg), and the following delegates were present:—Messrs A. Lowrie, R. MacGregor, A. Garmson, G. Amos. .Tas. Ward, G. Stevens. D. H. McLean, G. Brown, J. Gilmour, R. .1. Davidson, IC. Cheyne, H. Mclntyre, G. Toung, H. J. .Tefcoate, T. Pryde, J. Gilfedder. A. Bain. C. Wilson, and G. Melvin. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, which was published some weeks ago. the chairman said that the Association had done a good deal of work during the time it had been in existence, but they felt that there was not enough support being given. There were not enough school committees affiliating with the association, according to the expectations of those who .had formed the Association. What lie suggested was that they hold a monster rally, which could be arranged so as to allow country delegates to attend. It would be necessary to hold such meeting at an early date, as they had the election of members of the Education Board coming along very soon. Three members of the Board retired, and it would be an opportunity for the Association to,nominate its candidates. It would be necessary to act quickly, and lie though, t that they should have a committee to deal with the matter. Mr Lowrie seconded the motion for the .adoption of the annual report and bal-ance-sheet, and said that the Association had no reason to offer any apology for the work done during its short term of existence. It was true that they had not achieved a great deal, but be thought that in the formation of their constitution they had done something. There was an impression abroad that the Association was antagonistic to the Education Board, but in truth the Association was rather defensive of the Board. The actions of the Board had not met with the approval of school committees generally. They were the constituents of the Board, and they were of the opinion that the committees should receive more consideration than they had done in the past. The constitution as framed and placed before the members in the annual report provided for the association to embrace the whole of the education district of Southland, where it had hitherto been representative of only the middle or central ward. The object of the alteration was to give the association greater and wider powers. Mr Bain asked whether there had been any indication received from the western district committees as to their intention to join in with the local association, or to form an independent association, Mr McCulloch said that the secretary had received no reply. As regarded the other districts, the secretary said that he had received a letter from Mr Niven, of the Bdendale School Comjnittee. stating that his committee would be pleased to affiliate, providing a suitable time for meeting could be arranged. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The suggestion to hold a monster rally was then discussed, and it w r as suggested that the meeting should be held on the morning of the winter show. Mr Ward said that in his opinion that day would be unsuitable, as farmers did not come into town at show time to discuss educational matters. He thought that it would be more advisable were they to fix the meeting for. some Saturday afternoon. He took it that such a meeting would be held with the__ object of selecting candidates for the Board elections. He also took it that the association did not intend to nominate a candidate to oppose Mr .1. C. Thomson. M.P., who deserved the thanks of the association rather than to be opposed- He moved that the proposed rally be held on a Saturday afternoon. The- motion was carried. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr A. L. McCulloch: vice-president, Mr. A. Lowrie; committee, Messrs J. Gilmour, R. MacGregor. Jas. Ward, H. A. Meredith, D. McLean, J, Matheson, T. Pryde, Gavin Amos and Geo. Stevens. The new committee comprises seven town and five country members. Mr George Stevens was re-elected secretary. Mr Bain moved that the clause prescribing that the quarterly meetings be held on Saturday night be eliminated, and the motion was carried. In returning thanks to the members for having elected him president, Mr McCulloch cited the case of the Colac school committee as one which, in his opinion, could have been benefited by the association. Votes of tiianks were accorded to the retiring president and the executive.