SOUTH TARANAKI NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1930, Page 12

SOUTH TARANAKI NEWS

DAILY NEWS OFFICE:

Morrissey’s Buildings, Union Street, Hawera

P.O. Box No. 133, Hawera. Telephone No. 2706, Hawera

SCHOOL COMMITTEE WORK

SOUTH TARANAKI MEETING SUBSIDIES FOR EQUIPMENT. PROPOSED INTERMEDIATE CLASS. The quarterly meeting of the South Taranaki School Committees’ Association was held on Tuesday evening at Manaia, Mr. J. Crocker presiding. There were also present Messrs J. Barclay (Okaiawa), S. H. le Fleming, F. Schwieters (Otakeho), T. A. Bridge, G. H. Edwards, W. Vincent, A. Gamlin, Rev. R. Miller (Manaia), W. Ricketts, A. Kemp (Eltham), W. T. Seed, Prestidge (Matapu) and Dr. W. M. Thomson (Hawera). The chairman said he had pleasure in extending an invitation to Mr. A. Lees to be present. He was no longer on the school committee but he had taken a great interest in the work as a member of the Education Board. On the motion of Dr. Thomson it was resolved to thank the Taranaki Education Board for the valuable return prepared on school committee expenditure. Dr. Thomson said that the only school showing sufficient capitation was the Central School, which had not much upkeep beyond the school itself. He pointed out that the Hawera School had. extensive grounds and improvements to look after and unless they could secure £7O or £BO from the school concert this year their finance would be in difficulties. A committee by carrying out a lot of school improvements might inrvolve its successors in heavy liabilities. He thought that capitation should be sufficient to cover all essentials. The chairman considered that the return was proof that capitation was insufficient. He was convinced that they were right in working to secure more capitation. It was decided to forward a copy of the return to the Minister of Education. Mr. Ricketts mentioned that the Eltham committee had. been refused, .a subsidy On gramophone records used in the teaching of French, and he moved: “That this meeting considers that French gramophone records are necessary equipment in primary schools where French is being taught and should be supplied by the Education Department or at least subsidised £1 for £l.” Thu motion was carried. Mr. Bridge moved that district high ■schools ahotild. be placed on the same basis for capitation as secondary schools. This, he said, would enable them to be provided with type writers and other equipment necessary for commercial classes. The motion was carried. The recommendations of the select nniriTniitee on education was discussed by Mr. Ricketts, who considered that the proposed intermediate schools should be made to include Form 3. Dr. Thomson said it was only possible to establish an intermediate school where there was a large population, and if a Form 3 were started it .■.would mean overlapping the work of the high schools. ADVANTAGE OF FORM. The chairman supported Mr. Ricketts in the advocacy Of Form 3 tuition. 'Many who went to the high school Stopped at one year’s tuition, he said. If they had a Form 3 course it Would equip them for useful work in life. Some of those who were not exceptionally brilliant or fitted for the ,more academic course would receive benefits. Mt. Lees said he whs a strong supporter of the seventh standard in primary schools. Where they proposed io establish intermediate schools they already had good facilities for higher education. He thought it was the country children who required a little extra attention. Mr. Miller considered that the seventh standard was no advantage to those who intended to take an academic course. He thought it was keeping them back a year to compel them to stay in the seventh standard where the full range of subjects for matriculation was not taught. Mr. Lees agreed with this view but pointed out that he held the Seventh standard to be very valuable from a general point of view, for those who were not going on for academic education. Dr. Thomson said there were large numbers of country schools where the recommendations of the select committee could not apply, and there ought to be provision at these schools for carrying the children on to standard seven.

The chairman said it would be beneficial if Form 3 were introduced all over the country districts. He pointed out that many country people were unable to stand the expense of boarding their children in town to receive town secondary education, whereas if there were a seventh standard class at their country schools pupils could continue and derive considerable benefits. Mr. Lees pointed out that junior high schools were very much in an experimental stage in New Zealand. Mr. Gamlin brought forward the necessity for obtaining an extra dental nurse for South Taranaki. 'He said there were children at Otakeho and Oeo who needed treatment but were debarred from attending the Manaia clinic owing to lack of assistance. Mr. Ricketts said that if Manaia people had made inquiries before they started the clinic they would have collected from Auroa instead of Otakeho. Otakeho could not be taken in on account of the excessive work. He recommended that an extra nurse be provided at Hawera and that Manaia be worked from there. It was proposed to send another nurse in April, but until she came the Otakeho children could not ba treated as the present nurse had as much work as she could do. Dr. Thomson considered that it would be necessary to have five nurses for , South Taranaki, two at Hawera, one at Stratford, one at Eltham and one spare nurse to be utilised where necessary in Central and South Taranaki. It was resolved to write to the director of dental services asking that further assistance be given to enable schools which had contributed to the clinics to receive treatment as early as possible. The proposed method of electing members to education boards was criticised by Mr. Ricketts, who considered that school committees should be the proper authorities to elect representatives to such boards. The matter was referred to the annual meeting of the association for consideration. Supper was served at the conclusion

■by the Manaia ladies and on Mr. Cocker’s motion a vote of thanks was accorded the hostesses for their hospitality.

EDUCATIONAL CHANGES EARLY YEARS OF ADOLESCENCE. PARALLELS IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. /Reference to educational changes was made at the Taranaki-Wanganui Methodist Synod yesterday. “Changes axe taking place in all progressive countries in regard to education in the earliest years of adolescence,” stated the Sunday school report. “The Hadow report—the junior high school experiment —and the radical changes proposed by the recent education commission in New Zealand indicate a new recognition of the nature arid need of the boy and girl round about 12 years of ag<j, who have been hitherto in Stds. V. and VI. of the primary school system, but now begin a new period as Form I. and IT. “The situation is paralelled in the Sunday school, which must meet the particular need of this age group, or lose ground seriously. The unprepared schools will lose scholars now as easily at 12 years of age as they did a few years ago at 14. We have been engaged in committee work with this problem, and it is still proceeding. In the meantime, oite of our recommendations to synods is in relation to the literature which Wo believe is the best available for intermediate scholars with high school experience.” INSPECTING ELECTRICAL WORK CASE BROUGHT AS WARNING. “This is the first case of its kind to be brought in Hawera and I am instructed to say it is more in the nature of a warning so that a small penalty should suffice,” said Mr. J. Houston, appearing for the Electrical Wfremen’e Registration Board in the Hawera Magistrate’s OoUri yesterday. The board proceeded against Thomas Charles Hobbs, electrical wireman, Hawera, on a charge of connecting the electrical wiring Of two lighting points and an electric water heater with a source of supply controlled by a supply authority before such wiring had been inspected, tested and approved and permission given to make the connection.

Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., fined Hobbs £1 with costs £1 Ils. Mr. A. K. North appeared for Hobbs. Outlining the case Mr. Houston stated Hobbs carried out an electrical installa•tion for D. Muggeridge, Ketemarae Road, of two lighting points and an electric water-heater in the cowshed. He connected the installation to the supply before it had been inspected, tested and apprbved. It was necessary for all work to be inspected before Connection was made so that the supply authority could ascertain that the work was canted out in accordance with the electrical wiring regulations and was in a safe condition for supply. Defendant had admitted to the inspector that he personally livened the installation. Mr. Houston was detailing points wherein the job did not comply with the regulations when he was interrupted by the magistrate interposing that these were not necessary to the case./

Air. Houston emphasised the necessity for the public safety being safeguarded by authorised inspection. The action was brought as a warning to other contractors and to show the public that work had to be done by registered wiremen arid inspected before being connected.

Mr. North admitted that the job had been, connected before inspection but. submitted that in the country districts of older power boards, where the regulations were not so rigorously enforced, the work was sometimes connected to the supply prior to inspection. He understood that this was the practice of an adjoining board. The reason was that inspections in the country often involved delay. There was no intention to avoid the inspection. Mr. Salmon said he appreciated the necessity for the strict observance of the Act. y LADIES’ ATHLETIC CLUB. A meeting of the combined social and general committees of the Hawera Ladies’ Athletic Club was held on Monday evening, Mrs. T. J. Allan presiding over a large attendance. The following new members were elected: —Misses M. McCalman, H. Langford, E. Walker, H. Johnson, P. Boland and Z. George. It was decided to entertain visiting athletes at a dance following the sports at the Egmont A. and P. show. Miss Clapham, delegate to the Hawera elub, reported on proceedings at the last meeting. It was decided to secure an opinion from the coach, Mr. H. Whitehead, on the suitability of walking races. PERSONAL ITEMS. Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P. for Patea, returned from Wellington last night. After an illness of about a month one of the pioneer settlers of Waimate Plains, Mrs. John Imlah, died last week. Mrs. Imlah not only witnessed the Transformation of the plains into flourishing farms but with her husband took part in the slow and arduous work under conditions vastly different to those of to-day. For many years she resided near Manaia and became highly esteemed among the residents, the large number present at the funeral on Monday being evidence of the high regard in which she was held. The Rev. R. Miller conducted the service, Messrs. IF, and C. Muggeridge, M. Keppell, A. Laurie, R. A. Law and A. Mitchell being pall-bearers. OPERA HOUSE TALKIES. “TEMPLE TOWER” TO-NIGHT. Modern audiences are proving their appreciation of novelty by the excellent attendance at “Temple Tower” at the Opera House, Hawera, where this Fox Movietone feature is being shown. Based on the gripping story by H. C. McNeile of a gigantic jewel robbery and its unexpected consequences, the unique treatment given the tale has resulted in a picture as entertaining and clever as it is thrilling. The treatment is something the individual theatre-goer is asked, to discover for himself as the picture has many surprises. Kenneth Mac Kenna as “Bulldog Drummond,” Marceline Day and Henry B. Walthall head the well-chosen east which Donald Gallagher directed. The picture will be shown at 2 p.m. today and at 8.15 to-night and to-morrow night for the last time. The plan is at Miss Blake’s.