TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1916, Page 3

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING-. The usual monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education' Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs 11. Trimble (chairman), Marfell, Halcombe, Mackay, Young, Masters. Morton, Adlam and Rev. Chappell. The following commissioners were appointed owing to failure to elect committees: —Kiore, J. Stockley, J. Coldwell; Kohuratahi, ,J. B. McCartie, 0. McCutchan; Makahu, T. R. Mounscv, A. Bvne; Upper Mangorei, J. Abraham, J. D. Pearce; Midhirst, J. Shotter, W. Mountford; Mt. Messenger, B. S. Wells, A S. Sutton; Maflioe, J. Wmttington, A. Colaon; Mimi, J. Phillips, S. Butler; Mangaehu, J. B. Norris; Pihama, J. Conaglen, J. Pettigrew; Pungarehu, R. Fleming, H. Goodin; Pohokura. D. Pitcaithly, C. C. Prideaux; Piko, S. Smith. J. Hoskin; Warea, G. E. Julian, C. Parker; Huiakama, A. Meredith, W. Hol.tz.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported having made the following temporary appointments: Stratford, Miss N. Moore; Huiakama, Mrs. Lamplough; Tuna, Miss J. Graham; Pohokura, Miss N. Moore: Lepperton, Miss Grace Mount; Central, Mrs. Firth. Physical Instruction.—Mr. F. W. Roydhouse is <it present holding classes for teachers in this subject, and will also hold classes at schools with an attendance of 120. Classes for the training of teachers will be held at New Plymouth, Waitara, Inglewood and Stratford.

The finance committee reported recommending increases in the remuneration of the Board's office stafl. In moving the adoption of the report, Mr. Masters stated that the proposals were only temporary. The report was adopted.

BROPOSED AMALGAMATION OF J SCHOOLS. The Taranaki School Committees' Association wrote asking the JSoard to rescind its decision relative to the Albert, Kent, and Lower Mangorei schools, submitting that the curtailment of existing educational facilities in country dis--1 tr'iets was not a step in the right direction. It was urged that the schools 1 should be left as at present. The chairman of the Mangorei school forwarded a .statement pointing out that tlie proposed school would be nearly 7 miles from the Mangorei road, and thus .prevent young children from attending, and that the proposed amalgamation of the Kent and Lower Mangorei ichools on the site proposed would inflict a grave hardship and injustice on the Lower .Mangorei children. The chairman of the Kent committee also wrote protesting against the closing of that school, and pointing out that the proposed site of the new school, being adjacent to a swamp, was unhealthy. The Albert committee also objected to the closing of their school, and pointed out that it was impossible to send young children sonic three to four and a half miles to school. A deputation from the School Committees' Association waited on the Board in support of the above protests. Mr S. ft. Smith (chairman of t'he Association) said that as to Albert Road, the stronger objection was the distance and that it was unreasonable to ask children to traverse a track of over two miles across private property. With regard to the Kent and Mangorei schools, if the former was closed t'he majority of the children would attend Korito, while the Lower Mangorei children would attend iTpper MangQiei school. The site at the meeting of the waters was condemned by both committees. Moreover, taking away school facilities depreciated the value of the land. In reply to Mr. Morton, Mr. smith said he had not met a single resident of the districts affected who did' not object to the proposed new site. It was recognised that the Board's action as regards Albert road was in accord with the regulations. Mr. A. J. Bailey contended that it was never contemplated that settlers should be deprived of the their lawful [•Hits by such a drastic step as the Board proposed. It was impossible to send children under -seven years so far to school, so that they lost two of the best years for education, and could never reouin the lost advantages. Other members of the deputation spoke on the same lines. Mr. Haleombe could not see why. if the settlers objected to sending their children a long distance to school they were prepared to send them two n"'" 1 further sooner than let them attend tlie proposed new school. It was stated in reply that the site for the new school was objectionable owing to being swampy. The deputation then withdrew. _ Rev Chappell moved that contingent on the expectation of the increased attendance at the Albert Road school by the end of the school year, the position remain as it is until that time, and then be reviewed. The chairman stressed the fact that if the attendance fell no teacher would be found to accept the salary allotted to such a small school. The motion was seconded by MiYoung and carried. With regard to the other schools. Mi. Morton said that he adhered to his previous views. If there was any hardship it was in connection with the Low a Mangorei School and not with the Ivent Mack-ay sympathised with tlie parents in their 'objection to the new Site and he favored leaving the schools a° they were at present. He gave notice 'of motion to rescind the resolutio"' INSPECTOR'S REPORTS. The Board went into committee to consider the Inspectors' reports. The Selection Committee's report (which was taken in committee), was The Inspector reported recommending that the question of additions to the the Egmont Village school be deferred for the present.—Adopted. Mr. W. A. Ballantyne (Chief Inspector) reported that , in accordance with the resolution of the boanl he visited the Moturoa and Spotswood district to inquire into the question of the establishment of a school in that locality. He stated: "In the neighbourhood .if Moturoa and Spotswood there is fairlv close, settlement- and in the event of a" full standard school being established it would be attended by over sixty children. As you arc aware the settlement is close to the New Plymouth harbor and in the vicinity are i'lso the petroleum and ironsand works. Should these industries go ahead there will no doubt be a rapid increase in settlement. The electric tram-cars are row running to Moturoa and this should add to the prospects of the district from a residential point of view. As the price of land in the locality is

likely to rise rapidly I am of opinion that steps should be taken to secure a site on which a full standard school could be erected in the future. At the present time I would recommend that, providing the settlers find a suitable building, the Board take steps to establish a school with classes up to standADD EDUCATION BOARD 1234 ard 3 to be worked as a side school in conjunction with the West End. If this side school were established it would probably start with between 30 or 40 pupils and help to relieve the congestion which is constantly complained of in connection with the West End School."

The report was adopted, the question of arranging for a suitable building being left in the chairman's hands. The Inspector reported relative to the establishment of a side school at Westown, recommending the Board to approach the Department with a view to the establishment nf a side school to be worked with the Franklcy School. The report was adopted. OVERSEER'S REPORT. Tlie overseer, Mr. C. Moore, reported: Fine weather has enabled us to carry out a considerable amount of painting work at Tututawa. General repairs and drainage were also completed. Pnniwhakau.—Outside painting, general repairs and drainage had been completed.

Toko. — V\ T orn out tank renewed. York. —School nnd residence painted outside.

Waitui,—lnside and outside painting, also general repairs.

Kaimiro. —The outside of school and residence and part painting of the inside of residence completed. As the committee are giving help, & bath room will be erected at the residence and general repairs also attended to at the saine time.

Ackland.—Wo liave also repainted this school outside only. West End. —We have put in a ceiling and lined the walls of the gymnasium and painted same one coat. The walla will receive another coat, and sundry small repairs carried out when convenient. / Central—The dado of rooms in the north-west wins have been painted. Inglewood —Range at residence renewed, and small urgent repairs attended to. Lincoln.—Repairs held over, but they will receive attention as soon as possible. Okato,—Alterations deferred till next month. The report was received. Some discussion took place relative to the recurrence of illness among pupils at'the West End School.

Rev. Chappell considered that the Mangaotuku stream was a menace to public health and he considered that the Board should support any action that would tend to the removal of that menace. The West End school suffered considerably from epidemics caused by the stream. The chairman considered that the Health Officer should report on the matter and take what action was deemed advisable. He moved that the Health Department be asked for a report on the condition of the stream.—Carried.

COORESPONDENCE. The Raupuha Committee asked permission to sell an old tank.—(.ranted, the proceeds to be credited to the committee's funds. In reply to requests for repairs, etc., the following matters were referred to the overseer: Marco, heater for school; Oeo, fireplace in school to be attended to; Oakura, repairs to windows and ventilators; Waitara, septic tank; Stratford, roof of school, and to report re destructor; Tnrata, general repairs to be attended to; Huiroa, desks to be supplied; Toko, shelter shed and iron round the baths; Inglewood. colonial grate to be supplied and fixed, and chimney to be rebuilt; Carrington, desks to be supplied; Tuna, desks to be supplied and drain reported on; Korito, repairs to porch to oe executed; Stratford, heater to be provided; Bird, shed to be built in accordance with the committee's application. The Ratapikc and Uruti Committee's were granted the material for concreting and asphalting their shelter sheds. It was decided to approach the Depatment relative to the urgency of providing a school building at Finnerty Road, tr m the alternative to provide a shelter shed in which to carry on the school.

A request made liv the Tuna Committee for artificial manure was not complied with. In reply to the Tataraimaka Committee's request for a subsidy towards the cost of cutting down trees- it was decided that the Board could not see its way to grant the subsidy as the work should be done by the committee.

Ail application by the Kaimiro Committee for a subsidy towards forming school garden plots was acceeded to. i GENERAL. It ivns decided that a circular be prepared drawing the teachers' attention to tlie Department's circular regarding children helping to collect funds, etc., for the assistance of Belgian children. It was decided to notify Mr. Archie Hooker, truant officer, that his services would not be required after July 31. The question of returning a sewing machine from the Technical School to the Central School was referred to the chairman with power to act. Accounts amounting to £4103 10s 8d were passed for payment.