AID FOR CENTRAL SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1930, Page 9

AID FOR CENTRAL SCHOOL

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION. FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. A successful initial year was recorded at the first annual meeting of tho Central School Home and School Association last night, when.’ Mr. A. F. Sandford presided over an attendance of about 40 members. The membership committee reported, that in order to increase membership the committee adopted the “block” system ahd each member made himself responsible for the canvass' of his pc ticular block.,The response generally was very a-ratifying and expressions of •sympathy’ with the movement and offers of assistance received in every area visited. For the coming year the committee recommended that a similar system be adopted and that leaflets settino- out not only the objects but also what the association had accomplished be distributed, and that the “drive” for new members and membership renewals be started and completed within a definite period of 14 days if possible. The card evening committee reported that the total receipts for the three evenings was £7- 9s Bd. Expenses, including carfls, amounted to £5 5s 10d, leaving a credit balance of £2 4s Bd, The results had not been very encouraging anfl the committee recommend that°no further meetings be held in the meantime. The executive, in its statement, said, that the association was farmed on October 24, 1929, officers and an executive committee were elected on November •7, and a constitution was adopted on December 5. The annual ball had left a net credit balance of £4O ss. The association hud a membership of 382 and the annual' statement of receipts and expenditure showed the total receipts to be £BO 17s 9d, and expenditure £23 12s fid, leaving a credit balance of £57 5s 3d, which for the first part year only mus* be considered very satisfactory. Referring to the report of the social committee, Mr, Huggett said that the success of the functions was chiefly due to the aid of assisting artists and to the committee. The chairman said that the £3O for the dental clinic was being held until required and was thus bearing interest. The remainder of the" year’s- proceeds would be held until the school committee- requirefi it for special purposes. Appreciation of .the -efforts of the association was expressed by Mr. F. A. Coleman, chairman of the Central School Committee. The objects of the association, he said, were being achiev-. ed. The dent il clinic would be a monument to the work of the association. He explained that the opening function at the clinic wouffi take place shortly. The headmaster of the Central School, Mr. D. P. Evans, congratulated the association on the excellent results achieved in the district. He assured members tliat the staff appreciated the efforts of the association. > . It was to .alter the constitution to permit the officers of the association to be elected annually. Since the fire no word had been received from the department regarding the new school, though there were a number of rumours, said Mr. Coleman. It was resolved on his motion that in view of the present unsatisfactory con-, ditiong existing at the school, where the teaching staff was carrying on un-. der the most adverse conditions, the Education Department, through the Taranaki Education Board, be urged to expedite the re-erection of the new school buildings. ; ■ . x . .1 It was-resolved that the association’ viewed with 1 alarm and indignation the I recommendation 'of the - Parliamentary recess committee on education in its second report to the House that the Opaku Reserve (the revenue from which was in 1905 set apart to provide scholarships for the higher education of deserving 'scholars in the Taranaki province) 0 should be resumed as a national endowment for the benefit of the pioposed University of Northern New Zealand, and that this association regards the recommendation as a breach of, faith and strongly protests against its adoption. It was resolved further that copies be forwarded to the actingprime Minister and the Minister of Education. ' A strong protest moyed by Ml. Coleman against any curtailment of the existijm powers of education boards was passed: also a resolution expressing alarm at the tendency towards centralisation of education in Wellington as outlined i*n the recess committee s reOfficers w- elected as follows: President, the Hon. S..G. Smith; vice-pre-sidents, Mrs. Huggett and Mr. A. IL Sandford; secretary, Mr. W- H. Hugcett; auditor, Mr. J. 0. Turner; executive committee,. Meedamcs C. Waters, G. Smith; R- .A. .B.eJIL. Hi Jordan, Emeny, Throssell,. ,I)JUUb J- Clark, A. L. Fenkins, C. Ferry, .E- W. Hodder, H. W. Broad, May,. G.. Cathey, A. F. Sandford, H. E. Edgecombe, J- O- T^ une L Messrs. H. I Edgecombe, H. W. Broad, C. Ferry,’ G- W. Drake, E. R. Mclsaacs, G. Smith and R- A, Bent.