EDUCATIONAL

Southland Times, Issue 19461, 28 January 1925, Page 5

EDUCATIONAL

THE SOUTHLAND BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. A meeting of the Southland Education Board was held yesterday, the Chairman, Mr I H. Smith, presiding. There were present ; Messrs J. C. Thomson, A. W. Jones, J. !D. Trotter, P. de la Perrelle, S. Rice, • G. Johnson. Leave of absence was granted ■ Mr A. Bain. Messrs P. de la Perrelle and J. C. Thomp- ; son were re-appointed as the Board’s representatives on the High Schools’ Board. ARTHUR’S POINT SCHOOL. Mr Perrelle introduced to the meeting a deputation from the Arthur’s Point residents. Mr J. McMullen, of Arthurs Point, as a representative of the residents in his district asked that the AuthuPs Point School be re-opened. The suggested correspondence was unsuitable and the climate in winter time was too cold to allow of children being sent to Queenstown. The number of children would be increased to perhaps 10 and as goldmining was likely to boom again in the district the population would probably increase. • Mr Thompson assured the deputation that the Board was out to do its very best for backblock settlers, provided the settlers ; were willing to co-operate. j Mr McMullen said he was willing to accept the responsibility of finding the necessary guarantee of £lOO salary and upon that guarantee the Board decided to re-open the ■ school. TEACHERS’ APPOINTMENTS. I Prior to discussing the appointment of ! teachers Mr de la Perrelle moved that the I business be done in committee. Mr J. C. | Thompson seconded the motion. ’ Mr Jones opposed the motion saying he ! preferred the business should be done in open Board. The motion of Mr Perrelle was carried, Mr Jones withdrawing his objection. DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. On resuming open Board, Mr Thompson said he wanted to know the position in regard to the Wairaki School. The Department had agreed to sending the money for the removal of the school but so far nothing was done. The Board should register jan emphatic protest. The Port Craig School and Birchwood had not yet been attended to. The secretary said the Birchwood school was open, and the tenders for the Port Craig School had been re-issued. Negotiations were still in progress in connection with the Wairaki School. Mr Perrelle said the attendance at BirchI wood was 15 he thought it should be larger than that. Mr Thompson moved that the Department be asked to move in the matter immediately. The secretary said the children at Port Craig belonged to the employees of the Timber Co. and the Department considered the people there should contribute towards the cost of the building. Mr Thomson said it was ridiculous that Port Craig people should be asked to help build the school. The sawmilling people were as important as any branch of the community and the settlement was permanent. Sawmill workers were taxpayers and were entitled to the same treatment as people in larger centres. Mr Johnson agreed with Mr Thomson and stated he thought the Department w’ere very lax in such matters. | Mr Jones also supported Mr Thomson and I as a side line referred to the laxness of [ supervision over properties leased by the ; Board. I Mr Thomson’s motion “that the Dep art- '■ ment be asked to expedite the buildings at ' Wairaki and Port Craig,” was carried. The following resolutions were adopted:— That the Mataura School Committee be asked for an expression of its views regarding the alleged statement that it is dangerous for young children crossing the bridge in order to attend school unaccompanied by older pupils. That the Returning Officer, Wallace County Council be granted use of schools in Tihaka and Gummies Bush as polling i booths. I That communication from the Town | Clerk, Invercargill, re Governor's visit, be ! received, and the Council advised that the i Board will co-operate if the Health Department’s embargo on the gathering of children, on account of the prevalence of j infantile paralysis in the North Island, is removed. A motion of sympathy -for the Board's architect, Mr W. A. McCaw, in his recent bereavement was passed, all members standing.