TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4913, 2 September 1890, Page 4

TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru School Committee was held last evening. Present — Mr J. aill (chairman), Eev. W, J. Williams, Messrs Harris, Grandi, Holdgate, Mills, and Harrop. The headmaster'sreport showed that the overage attendance for tho past month had boen at the Main School 808, out of a roll number of 965 ; Side School 168, out of roll number 197. Tho headmaster asked for three more desks for the Bido School. He hod obtained a fow maps from the eduoation office to dißplnce some which had been m use many years. There was now an accumulation of old maps, and he suggested that they be sent to the saleroom. He proposed to levy 6d this month for stationery fees, for the final turn ; next year 2s m instalments would be collected as decided by the oommittee.

Correspondence was read as followi : — From the Board, agreeing to allow three pupil teachers, whose terms aro about to expire, to remain to the end of the year, at the usual reduced salaries— two-thirds of the scale rate.

From the Typographical Association, asking the committee to mark their appreciation of the forbearance and persistent efforts of the unions to arrive at an amicable settlement of the dispute by withholding their support from Whitoombe and Tombs until they are prepared to extend to the unions the same privileges as they themselves enjoy. The chairman itated that ha had ascertained from Mr Wake that none of Wbitcombe and Tombs' reading books were used in^ the sohool, but their copy books were. Vere Foster's were formerly used, but tho Southern Cross books were adopted »s better suited for teaohing writing. He (Mr Hill) considered the committee had no control m this matter, the Board had control, and all the committeo could do was to make a recommendation to the board. The committee's first consideration m this matter should bo for the pockets of the parents. If the children had to get new books it would be a great hardship to the parenU. He sympathised with tho unions m the course they had taken m the Whitcombe and Tombs matter, as they were fighting a bad cause, but it was not their place to inflict a hardship on parents m order to get at Whitcombe and Tombs. Mr Mills spoke at seme length to show that Whitcombe and Tombs de«erved no sympathy, but the reveree. Mr Grandi agreed that that was correct, at the same time be did not see that the committee had power to interfere. Mr Holdgate pointed out that it would m the first place punish the stationers who had stockß of those books.

Mr Williams moved that the circular lia on tho table. The request it contained was based upon the forbearance of tho unions ; what were they tv say now to tho quality of tha action of the unions. The committee ouj-ht not to take any action at all.

Mr Grandi : The present strike was not brought about through Whiteomba and Tombs.

Mr Harrop seconded tho motion. Any proposal to alter any books m the school should emanate from the parents, and he objected to being dictated to by any Union. If any petition from parents were received asking the committee not to encourage the use of the books he would be prepared to act but he objected to being dictated to, and to any firm being coerced m the manner of conducting their business. After some further discussion Mr Millß moved an amendment that the board be recommended to discontinue dealing with Whitcombe and Tombs as far as this school is concerned.

This was not seconded, and Mr Williams' motion was carried, Mr Mills dissenting. On the he»dma»ter's report it was resolved to act upon his suggestion to sell the old maps, and on the chairman's suggestion to dispose of some old gates m the same way. The chairman mentioned that the headmaster's honse, which would be required for the teacher shortly, required complete renovation inside and oat, tho drains particularly were m a very bad state. It was agreed that Messrs Williams, HoMgate, and Harris be a sub-committee to obtain an estimate of tho Co3t of the necesaary repairs and transmit the same to the board at its next meeting with •» request that the work be carried out before the headmaster takes possession. The h'juee was declared to be m a very bsd state indeed. It was resolved to ask the board, it bping assumed that the committee's recommend*tion respecting the headmastership would be adopted— to retain the services of Mr Blako as second master until at least after the next examination.

Mr Harris, as visitor to the Bide School, reported a window broken. The chairman said he was weary of repairs at the Bide School. That school cost more repairs than the Main School, and it always would till the board put a residence there.

Visitors were appointed, accounts amounting to £9 4a 6d were passed for payment, and the meeting closed.