EDUCATION BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21073, 3 May 1930, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Southland Education Board was held yesterday. There were present: Messrs A. W. Jones (chairman), L. Evans, S. Rice, H. Smith, J. C. Thomson, W. Carswell and G. Johnson. A deputation from the Rivcrsdale School Committee waited on the board regarding consolidation with the Dipton school. The deputation consisted of the new committee, Messrs P. Hogg, J. Burgess, C. Gerrard, R. Mitchell and A. Watson. The chairman, in welcoming the deputation, explained that the board had decided to let the householders express their desire for consolidation, or their opposition to it, at the annual meeting. The board would hear from the new committee as to the wish of the district). The chairman of the new committee (Mr Hogg) said that at the annual meeting of householders the old committee had been voted out completely. The new committee was entirely in favour of consolidation.

The chairman assured .the deputation that the Minister would be communicated with immediately asking that consolidation be given effect to. Before the meeting closed a telegram was received from Mr Atmore assuring the board that he would ask Cabinet for a grant. The Scfiool Attendance Officer (Mr J. B. Cosgrove) reported, inter alia, that the ten schools with the highest percentage for the month of March had been: Sunnyside 100; Te Tipua 100; Lora Gorge 99.8; Springbank 99; Glenure 98.7; Drummond 98.1; Glenham 98.1; Lochiel 98.1; Maori Beach 98; Pyramid Siding 98.' Only three schools had returned their percentages as below 80 per cent., the low percentage being caused by sickness and the absence of Maori children at the mutton-bird islands. The' average attendance for the 175 schools had been 92.62, 132 of the total number having their percentages ranging from 90 to 100 per cent. ■' ■