EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1933, Page 8

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

SOUTH TARANAKI BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS., The annual meeting of the South Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute was held at Stratford on Saturday, Mr. L. B. Galbraith presiding.

The report showed a membership of 141, 130 full members (69 women, 61 men), seven unemployed, three honorary and one part-time. The previous year closed with a full membership of 136. The time of stress which marked the period, the large number of unemployed teachers, and the falling in grade of the smaller schools and sub-grade in the larger, were cause for congratulation that the branch had maintained so satisfactory a position. “Early in the year Mr. J. R. Naim, Hawera, retired on superannuation after a service of 42 years. As he drew from a full and rich experience, the counsel and advice of Mr. Naim were always greatly appreciated at branch meetings, at which he was most regular in attendance. To Mr. Naim the branch extends its best wishes for a long and happy retirement

“By removal to Auckland schools the branch lost the services on the management committee of Misses Small and Harper, zealous workers in the cause of educational advancement, and we wish them every success in their new spheres of labour.”

Considering the fact that the branch was a very scattered one, the chairman said, the average attendance of 27 at the seven general meeting was good. They were unfortunate in having no lectures on subjects of professional advancement, and meetings were largely concerned with matters of serious concern to the educational system, while in addition special meetings were called to consider the report of the National Expenditure Commission. The collection of material bearing on the inspection and examination of schools presented a rather formidable task, practically every part of the Empire contributing. A digest was in the course of preparation for consideration of all branches of the institute, before presentation to the annual meeting in May.

At the previous annual meeting the consideration, of a library had been deferred to the committee with the object of giving greater facilities to the South Taranaki members. The committee had purchased a suitable book case, with a capacity for about 50 books, which could be procured at each general meeting and kept for four weeks, The chairman explained that the members were responsible for returning the books to New Plymouth, and that the shelves would be kept filled from headquarters. The‘sum of £5 was set aside as a donation to thelibrary. A letter was received from Mr. ; George Davey, library secretary, requesti ing the immediate return of any out- ‘ standing books, as there were 50 books ; unaccounted for, many of which were current works on education and in frequent demand. Unqualified approval of the organisai tion and enthusiasm of both classes and . instructors in the classes of the second course of physical instruction was ex- ■ pressed by Mr. H. Dempsey, a member of the education board, and the acting senior inspector, continued the report. 1 The' organisation and control of the classes had been placed in the hands of the institute. FINANCES SATISFACTORY. The balance sheet showed a satisfac- ’ tory position. The year was begun with a credit of £55 8s sd, and concluded with the balance at £52 16s 9d. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the chairman said the membership showed a decrease on the figures of two years ago, but there had , been few resignations. The fall was wholly due to the lack of teachers employed in the district. The year had been a fairly busy one. Mr. N. H. Tunnicliffe, seconding the motion, said he would like the meeting to record its appreciation of the enormous amount of work the management had done. Following the receipt of advice of the triennial election of members to the Teachers’ Superannuation Board, the meeting recorded its recommendation that Mr. C. Robertson, treasurer of the institute, be appointed to the seat shortly to be vacated by Mr. Kidson, who was leaving Wellington. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. D. G. Sherson (Manaia secondary); vice-president, Mr. G. H. Percy (Hawera); secretary, treasurer and appeals advocate, Mr. Thomas Taylor (Normanby); honorary auditor, Mr. R. E. Thomas (Eltham); managing committee, Messrs. L. B. Galbraith (Fraser Road), L. M. Fairbrother (Auroa), J. Linehan (Rahotu) and J. Thomas (Hawera Main), Misses B. M. Palmer (Okaiawa) and I. Guppy (Kaponga). DISCUSSION ON SUBSCRIPTIONS. A financial committee consisting of the president, vice-president, secretary and Mr. G. H. Percy had made careful investigations in to the income and expenditure of the branch over the past three years, it was reported, with a view to certain alternative reductions in subscriptions. The management committee pointed out. in the report that in the past it had been the policy to keep in reserve £3O for emergency, and the committee was of the opinion that, should a reduction be approved, the reserve would disappear, leaving only a small credit balance annually to the current account. That would make the branch dependent on the general fund of the institute.

The secertary (Mr. Taylor) said the North Taranaki branch had put a motion that the subscriptions be 30s, reducible to 255. Several .suggestions for the reduction of expenses were put forward, and the finance committee was of the opinion that it would be possible to work on 27s 6d for a few years, but that any extras would have to be collected individually. It was considered by the committee that that was as far as the branch could go and still keep a credit balance.

Mr. Percy said the question had been gone into, and they could not reduce beyond 27s 6d, which meant £1 to the central executive, and 7s 6d to themseleves.

With regard to the central body a member expressed the opinion that there were too many highly paid officials, and they were getting an inflated idea of themselves. The subscription to the central body should be reduced 20 per cent It was pointed out that running expenses amounted to 6s 6d per head, and if certain reductions were made the branch could manage. The £5 donation to the Wairoa earthquake relief fund was nonrecurring expenditure. Mr. , Hawke said many teachers had stated that they did not want to meet

30s, and he considered that in the long run a reduction might prove more profitable.

Mr. Percy said the committee had suggested 27s 6d toenable a continuation of the institute’s activities and to keep expense within the income. As £1 a head was paid to the central body, members were of the opinion that the central fund should be open to be drawn upon. A remit to the executive was adopted—“that the levy payable to the central body executive be reduced by 55.” The subscription was fixed at 30s, reducible to 255, for teachers who signed authorisation forms or who paid before June 1. PROBATIONARY ASSISTANTS.

A further remit, “that the institute press for continual employment for probationary assistants even at a lower salary,” was passed. Mr. Linehan suggested that, instead of £lOO being divided between three probationers, who would work for only one term each, the two best should be employed for the twelve months, at an annual salary of £5O, while the third could take relieving positions. Even at £1 a week they would jump at the chance of continual employment. “Whatever is being saved by the exclusion of five-year-old pupils and by skimping primary school education,” Mr. Furrie said, “the secondary schools are becoming larger and requiring more teachers, while the younger teachers are marking time. 1 The whole thing will be an extra expense, but not in the primary department.” Other remits passed were:—

“That if the teaching of science is considered desirable, suitable apparatus should be provided.” .' ' “That the management committee should discuss the effect of the estab-

lishment of intermediate schools in relation to existing primary schools.” The secretary’s honorarium was fixed at £l5.