HIGH SCHOOLS’ BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 17 June 1924, Page 9

HIGH SCHOOLS’ BOARD.

YESTERDAY’S MEETING. The inontlilv meeting oj the ’I imam High School Board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs J. Bitehencr, Al.lh (chairman), Airs 15. H. Low, Alessrs \V. D Re veil, T Lyon, W. E. Chovorton, W. D. Campbell, G. Dennistoun, J. Maze, H. Jl. Fraser, and Dr. L. S. Talbot.;-, _ - "■ , Apologies for .absence were received from Dr. G. E. tie bites and Messrs 11. Orwiu and L. J. -McGregor. The ■ chairman proposed a..vote -oi sympathy with Airs Low and her family in their recent bereavement. The motion was carried in the usual manner. The chairman.extended a hearty welcome to Alessrs Lyon and Dennistoun as representatives of the Geraldine County Council. He hoped that they wquld' find ...the work congenial, and the schools would benefit by their services to -the Board.

HIGH SCHOOL BOARDS’ CONFERENCE. Tho lion, secretary' of the New Zealand High School Boards’ Association wrote stating that at the recent conference of Boards, the Minister of Education had promised that he would carefully consider, 'and amend or abolish if necessary, any regulations vliich could" be shown to be unduly irksome. It was desirable that this opportunity should be taken advantage ol ' to make known any amendments which various Boards considered necessary, and it was desired that the Board should, as soon as possible, go. fully into all of the regulations in the recent consolidation, and forward any suggest ed amendments. A list of resolutions passed at the conference- was enclosed. The chairman said that one matter which was referred to in the report, was the sj'stem of representation ot High School Boards, and the methods of election, which varied widely in different -parts of the Dominion. The local Board consisted of thirteen members, and ivas one of the largest in the Do minion, and others ranged down to about five. He thought this was a matter which needed amending. Air Revolt, who had attended the conference, reported on the work clone. He said that there had been several complaints about the pin-pricking regulations Issued by- the Department, especially with regard to" the necessity of writing to the Department for permission to purchase small things. Tho delegates admitted, that this was .not always the fault of Departmental heads for a certain amount of the work had to bo delegated to juniors. Exception was also taken to the regulation against the payment of -prize money, .to which the. Slinister ’ had replied. thaL the Government provided free ’ecluea-* tion, and he could not see why they should be called on to pay out money for. prizes. Reference had also been .-rnatle to the, delay of 'the Education Department iin dealing with urgent matters. Air Revell’s motion that the Department should he asked to look representation. on Higfe*St?h-00l -"BoardsHfad' bfeeVv'-cameci 1 The conference had unanimously agreed to tho principle o% the amalgamationof Technical and High Schools in towns of small ancl"-intermediate size. Mi Revell moved that a committee should be set up for the purpose of considering the regulations, with tho Rectoi and Lacly Principal, J\nd submit any amendments They thought,-necessary., AUs Low asked if Timaru was one of the intermediate towns where amalgamation of Technical ancl High Schools-Would -take place. ■ . ' ' i't The chairman .replied that the Minister had already "Indicated that wav. Air Revell’s motion was carried-, and Airs Low, Dr. Talbot and Alessrs Revell and Campbell were appointed a com- J mittee. j AU Revell was accorded a liearly j vote of thanks for his report, | EXCHANGE OF FARAIS.

The chairman ■ said there were two matters which the Rector (Mr W . Thomas) had requested him to bring up at the meeting. Tli'e "first-had been the question of the exchange of farms. The chairman said the matter had been discussed with the Minister in Timaru, but he thought the other South Canterbury Members of Parliament would be interested, and in view of the opening of the session next week, it would be”as well to discuss it with them, and see if something could bo done. Ho thought it would he a step in the right direction to exchange one of their farms for another nearer the school, so that the- boys-could'get more-practical knowledge. * The other matter was that of accommodation at the Rectory, the Rector having stated that a numbei of hoarders were being refused, and something should be done to increaso the accommodation.

On the motion of Dr. Talbot, if was decided that the Finance Committee should confer with the Rector on the question, and report to the next meet ing.~.