TIMARU HIGH SCHOOL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 6067, 28 September 1894, Page 4

TIMARU HIGH SCHOOL.

. — *» — . I A special meeting of the Timaru High | School Board of Governors was held yeiter- 1 day to discuss certain new legislation now | before Parliament, Present: Yen Arobdeaoon Harper (chairman), Eev G Barolay, Messrs M Gray, W Balfour, J Hole, 8 W Goldjmith. The ohairman said the special meeting was oalled to consider oertain proposed legislation affecting the Board's revenues. Mr barolay knew most about it, and he would ask him to explain the matter. Mr Barclay said a Bill was now before the House proposing to deal m aspsoial manner with harbour board and high school reserves This board nerd not trouble about the harbour board's affairs, the harbour board could look after those. But the application of the Bill to the college and high school reserves was of very great importance to this board. The Otago and Ohristohuroh Boards had already met and drawn up protests against the measure. The Bill was introduced by the Minister of Lands and it contained two proposals regarding high school reserves, one to take the administration of the reserves out of the hands of tbe board and hand it over to the Waste land Boards ; the other that the administrators shall not hand over the whole of Vac proceeds, but a balance only, after deducting " thirds" or " fourths." This would mean a reduotion of 33 or 25 per oent m the Board's revenues from endowments. With regard to the disposal of the deductions that did not much oonosrn this Board, but he understood that they were to go to the road boards and other looal bodies, forroading tbe reserves. This legislation would place a great many high sohools m a very difficult poiition. It would be very unjußt. It was not fair to endow these schools and lead bodies of men to institute sohools, invest m buildings, and employ staffs, and thou to suddenly out down Iheir funds It ranst neoeeeitate regrettable alterations m the staffs and salaries, and otherwise detrimentally affeot the interests of secondary education. With regard to the first point, shifting the administration, he would nob be so much opposed to that if they banded back the revenue obtained ; on the other hand he Baw no necessity for it. The board had managed their endowments tolerably well for fourteen years, and members had never oharged anything for any trouble they had gone to. They had had some lobsbb, but only suoh as no one could possibly guard against, and the only expenses had been the ordinaiy legal expenses and for surveys. He did not think the reserves could be managed more economically or wisely. With regard to the other pom*, reduction of income, that would place the board m a very great difficulty. Their inoome now from endowments was about £1800 a year, and if one-fourth or one-third of that was taken away they could not carry on the school with the present staff, or the present salaries. They would have to reduce the staff, or the salaries, or both. If the question of the high schools m a larger or more comprehensive cense were before the meeting, he would have something to say, but that was not now the question. He bad now only to protod against this attempt of the Government to despoil them of a part of the endowment bestowed upon them years ago. Be knew there was a feeling abroad that there was too muoh done for secondary eduoation, but when they remembered tbat there were about 100,000 pupils ia tho primary schools and only 2000 odd m the secondary sohools, they could not say that seoondary eduoation was being overdone as far as numbers were concerned. This,, however, was outside tbe subject m hand. He would move—" That this Board earnestly regrets certain proposals re High Sohools contained m a Bill now before Parliament. That it dissents from the first, namely, to deprive the various boards of the administration of their several reserves, on the grounds that the boards are the natural guardians of their own endowments, and that the administration m other hands will often leave the board m ignorance of what their resouroea really are ; that it dissents from the second, namely, to materially reduce tbe revenue of the boards, a propoial wbioh if carried into effect would necessitate important and undesirable changes m the staff of the schools, the salaries of the teachers, and m other directions be detrimental to tbe best interests of secondary education ; tbat m case enoh proposals should pass into law, such a postponement of their operation should be provided for as woulJ enable the various boards to give due notioe to their employees, j and to effect other changes m a just and honourable way." In regard to the ignorance referred to m tbe motion, Mr Barclay said! that if they had to inquire time after time how much the reserves were bringing m, they would lire m uncertainty, and if thirds or fourths were deducted probably something more would be deducted for , administration. If suoh a bill were put m instant operation, they would have on their hands a staff whose salaries they oould not instantly reduce m conformity with their reduced income In reply to the chairman Mr Barclay said he did not know how far the Bill had gone m, the Houte but it bad been submitted, and the boards at Dunedinaud Ohristchurch met and pasted protests against it. 'ihe Dunedin University would be greatly injured. Only recently, through a falling off m their revenues they had to strike off £100 each of the ' professor's salaries, and the further deductions contemplated would necessitate outting off some of the chair*. Tne Dunedin High Pchool Board had alto been v mpelled to reduoe salaries. None of the. numbers had yet Been the Bill, and some surprise was expressed that a copy had not been sent to the BoaH. A desultory diiousßion afto. wards foliowrd m whioh all the members took part. It was pointed out that this board is m a different pceition from some others, all its reserves being occupied ua farm*, w L i t> tbe Olago boards and Ohristchnroh College have some pastoral runs among their endowments. The board's endowments, it was pointed out, are well subdivided and supplied with roads, and the tenants pay road board and county rates. (Mr Balfour weut out and ascertained the latter fact.) It was admitted that there might be some reason for suoh legislation m other cases, but there was no netd to pass a sweeping measure to deal with those oases. The motion was seconded by Mr Hole, who eaid the thanks of the Board were due to Mr Barolay for bringing the matter before them. Ihe motion when put was carried unanimously, and the secretary was instructed to forward copies to tbe Government and the members for the distriot, together with information as to the extent and nature of holdings of the Board's reserves, rates paid etc. '