SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION

Southland Times, Issue 17938, 18 May 1917, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Southland School Commltteess’ Association was held on Tuesday evening, the president (Mr A. L. McCulloch) presiding over an attendance of about thirty members. ANNUAL REPORT. The following report was presented by the secretary: —It is regrettable that during the year, though the efforts of the Association have not been relaxed, interest in tho work of the Association has been somewhat slackened, or partly overshadowed by the greater Interest centred in the war in which our nation is engaged. Such slackening is regrettable, for while tho war is continuing its course well on to the end of the third year, the children are growing up and should not be neglected. Much requires to be done in the Interests of the children attending the primary schools to give the children justice, and capitation should be increased. If the Association is to be successful in its aims, there can be no flagging of interest, for to-day, more than ever, it is a truism that knowledge is power, and the fact cannot be too often impressed upon us that the education of the children is of vital and paramount importance to any nation that is to remain in the foremost rank. Continuing on the lines laid down at the last annual meeting the executive have been in communication with kindred associations in Otago and Canterbury with a view to arranging a dominion conference of delegates. The Dunedin Association invited this Association to send delegates to their meeting to plac© the views of this Association before them. The president (Mr McCulloch) was appointed to represent the Association, and will place the report of his visit before you. Tho Canterbury Association are working heartily much on the same lines as ourselves, more especially in respect to increased capitation to primary schools, and are now arranging for a dominion conference of delegates to meet in Wellington during the next sitting of Parliament. This Association Is invited to send delegates, and a report of the Canterbury Association meeting will bo placed before you. There are still many schools committees in Southland who have not affiliated with the Association. It is suggested: (1) That some special effort should b© put forth to induce these committees to take an interest In the work of the Association; (2) that delegates should take Into consideration whether this Association as at present constituted is not somewhat unwieldy, and whether the attempt to gather all the committees in the Southland education distriett into one association is not a loss of energy, and consequently a source of weakness; (3) whether better results would not be obtained and greater interest induced to be taken in educational matters generally, if the Association were divided into districts and localised with quarterly meetings to be held at Gore, Riverton, Wjnton and Invercargill as headquarters of the Eastern, Western, Central and Town Districts respectively, the whole to be affiliated; ail meetings to be open to any members of a school committee and an executive meeting of delegates from each district to be held in Invercargill quarterly. During the year levies amounted to £l2 3s 2d, and the expenditure £l2 18s 6d, the balance on hand being £2 13s Id. The chairman said that he had much pleasure in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, which, he thought, considering all things, was most satisfactory. Certainly, the executive had done its best. Mr Gilfedder seconded the motion, which was carried. CORRESPONDENCE. The Health Inspector (Dunedin) forwarded a communication in regard to the treatment of schools in connection with preventing the spread of infectious diseases. —Received. OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows: —President, Mr A. W. Jones: vice-president, Mr A. W. Anderson (North); secretary, Mr F. C. Smith; executive, Messrs P. Gilfedder (Rimu), White Clark (Kennington), E. Hudlo (Walklwi), P. de la Perelle (Winton), Wilson (Wallacetown). A. Anderson (Middle), W. Agnew (Middle), and J. T. Prain (Waihopai). Mr Anderson (Middle) gave notice of motion that the constitution should be altered to allow of two vice-presidents being elected. On the motion of Mr T. D. Klngsland (Walklwi), Mr McCulloch was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his services to the Association in the past, and it was unanimously agreed that he be elected a life-member of the Association. OTHER BUSINESS. Messrs J. T. Prain, T. D. Klngsland, W. Agnew, A. Anderson (Middle), and the president, were appointed a deputation to wait on the Education Board in the matter of obtaining increased capitation.