CENTRAL TARANAKI NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1931, Page 9

CENTRAL TARANAKI NEWS

SCHOOL FOOTBALL DRAW. ELTHAM JUNIOR GROUP. The following is the draw for the Eltham junior group of the southern division of school football. Matches will be played on Ith e ground of . the first-named ’team. Rawhitiroa is a composite of Rawhitiroa and Eltham Convent;— May 2.—Matapu v, Rawhitiroa; Eltham B n bye. May 9. —Eltham B v. Rawhitiroa, May 30. —Matapu y. Eltham B. June 6.—Rawhitiroa v. Matapu. June 13. —Rawhitiroa v, Eltham B. June 20. —Eltham B v. Matapu. On June 6 a group representative teani will play Eltham seniors.

ELTHAM WOMEN’S DIVISION.

ANNUAL MEETING OF BRANCH,

The annual meeting of the Eltham branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union was held on Saturday, Mrs. J. Cocker presiding. The president in her report thanked all members who assisted in the work. A great deal of work had been done in helping cases of distress with food and clothing. Clothes had been sent to. Manaia, Pahiatua and Waipukurau, and also to families in the. surrounding districts. The president\ thanked all- who. s.enr clothes, boots and shoes, for; the earthquake visitors -and expressed appreciation of the excellent spirit shown by the Red Cross- and the Plunket Society in connection with this work. Over 20 beds were offered through - the division bymembers and friends for accommodation of. the visitors,

The branch 1 had-the advantage of Red; Crosk lessons given by Sister Ingles; efj Hawerav' It had also carried out: the cateringlifor the boys’ and girls’ .'calfjudging, held at Taumata Park,/the result being very successful. Thanks were due to those who forwarded' books for the book club, though the appeal had ■not met with such a.Teqdy response as in previous years. Mrs.'Pitcaithly carried out her duties as librarian very ably. Special mention should be. given to the secretary (Mrs. Simpson), also the assistant secretary, for the efficient way the business had been carried out, especially as Mrs. Simpson fitted up several families with clothing collected by her,. ;;, - ; ' ■ Officers were elected'as follow: President, Mrs. M. J. Cocker; vice-presidents, Mesdamgs Fletcher and Pitcaithly; secretary, Mrs. Simpson; branch advisory member, Mrs. Ogle. The president was thanked for her report and also for her-services during, the year.

COST OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

OPINION OF STRATFORD MAYOR. Mr. P. Thomson, Mayor of Stratford, sees avenues for exploration in economising in the cost of secondary schools •md universities of New Zealand. In the course of his remarks at the annual meeting of- householders Mr. Thomson quoted the Hon. 11. Masters to the effect that State education was costing New Zealand about £3,000.090 annually, but this sum, he said, did not include the cost of private or sectarian schools, It did, however, include capital expenditure and 'about £115,000 for the Child Welfare Department. In addition to this State expenditure, Mr. Thomson drew attention to the huge aggregate sum involved in the individual costs boj-jie by parents in providing books, stationery and other incidentals to the school life of their children. He advocated savings ip primary schools ; from the greater use of the Government printing department and the more genera) reversion to slates as opposed to writing on paper. “Economy is being forced on our educational system, and I am convinced the avenue for greatest savings lies in the overhaul of. our secondary schools,’’ he continued. “We as a community, I am satisfied, are not getting .value for the money ■ spent iff ‘- this- direction oi on universities” ,-f -• ■: . . >

Mr. Thomson-added that many, children remained at school .a? consumers of wealth when they should ...be working «s producers of wealth.?- y . < ■ :