SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ACTIVITIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18545, 16 April 1930, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ACTIVITIES.

NECESSITY FOB UNI DOMINION WIDE MOVEMENT. At the quarterly meeting of the South Canterbury School Committees’ Association, which was held in the Waimataitai School last night, considerable discussion took place in regard to a circular which is being distributed throughout the Dominion, appealing to School Committees to join up with Associations in their districts in order to further the interests ol education generally. The subject was introduced in a letter from the president of the South Island Federation of School Committees’ Associations (Mr W. H. Steele), who forwarded a copy of a circular which was being sent to every school committee in the Dominion. He stated that a careful perusal of the circular would give members an idea of the objects in view, in endeavouring to enlist the practical sympathy of school committees in the work of the Associations, and asking them to co-operate with them by ioining up with the Association in their district. It was only by united effort (hat the maximum good could be achieved, and it was hoped that ths Association would give the matter careful consideration.

The circular stated that at the last conference of the South Island Federation of School Committees’ Associations. held in Timaru. the question of the unsatisfactory conditions under Which school committees labour, was discussed, and it was decided that in order to improve matters, a strong endeavour be made Lo get all school committees to link up with their District Association. It was thought that there could be no doubt in the minds of school committeemen as to the wisdom of linking up the whole of the school committees in New Zealand in one Federation. The school committees constituted the largest body of voluntary workers in the cause of education in the Dominion, yet their voices were seldom heard, and when it was heard, it had little effect. Why ws this? It was because they lacked cohesion. While Associations embraces a certain number of committees, the bulk still remained outside. If thev could persuade all committees to join up. they could show a united front, and should be the most effective oody working in the cause of education. The powers of school committees hau gradually been whittled away until to-day committees were in existence merely to augment the inadequate capitation grant made by the Department for the up-keep of schools. The idea of the Federation was that all school committees be urged to join up

with the Association in their district. That an organising secretary be appointed, whose duty it would be to visit school committees and advise them on all matters connected with education and educational reform, to keep in touch with the Department, and bring before the Associations any suggested alteration or amendment to the Education Act that might have any bearing on school committee’s work and activities In order to raise the necessary funds to finance the scheme, it was suggested that 'he affiliation fees for committees joining up with their Associations be as follows:—For committees of nine members 21s, seven members 15s and five members 10s, ant, that out of these amounts Is 3d per member be Da id over to the Feder-

‘ion to defray salary of organising secretary, office expenses, etc. Affiliation fees might be charged to “incidentals’ 'No. 1 account. The Associations in the past had accomplished much good, but it was felt that if all committees linked up. they could increase their usefulness very considerably.

At the start of the meeting, the chairman (Mr G. Benstead), said that it was desirable, particularly at the present time, that all school committees in South Canterbury should join up with the Association. An appeal would be placed before members later, and this would circulate throughout the Dominion soliciting the cooperation and helo of all committees. r, ' , )ess all committees pulled together they had no hope of accomplishing what thev wished to do, not for their own benefit, but in the interests of the children. Town committees did not often have an opportunity of visiting country committees, and he honed that country members present would nreach the gospel of unity among kindred committees. This was absolutely essent--1 at, this time, when the primary schools system was in the melting pot. When the appeal was read to the meeting, the chairman said that although it was directed to individual committees, he thought that it would h(®p if the Association passed a resolution. He felt that no good could DGssibly accrue to primary education, in the way they wanted it, unless committees throughout the Dominion, presented a united front. He would like to see the Association carry i resolution endorsing the appeal. Mr W. S. Curr (Glen-iti) asked ff there was an Association, similar to their own, in Temuka. The p>oirv.iovt p-->”e a relative reply, that he did not know how the difficulty was to be overcome, unless a sub-Association was formed in Temuka This point was discussed at some length. Mr W. Gibb (South) raid there was one thing in the anneal to which he objected, n-~‘- tbo Feder■m had set out to tell each committee whai its wages were to be. He thought that it was overstepping the mark in laving down what each committee's affiliation fee to its local Association should be. It should be left to each Association to conduct its owi. household, for conditions in the various districts miglit vary considerably. The chairman said that the circular only made a suggestion in this direction. Mr Gibb, in reply, said that tin Association was being asked to approve of the appeal. He moved: “That the circular should not refer to the contribution to be made by individual committees to their respective Associations, as the circumstances in different districts vary, and the financial necessities of all are not equal. That (he proposed circular in other respects be approved, and that this Association pledge itself to do its utmost tu give effect to the objects of the appeal.” The motion was seconded bv Mr F. E. ytewart (South). The chairman agreed that the motion was along right lines. Mr E. J. Dash (St. Andrews) opposed the motion. He said that before the--started on their organisation they were quibbling about what each committee was to pay. He contended that they should set to and draw up a scheme cf organisation to bring in all committees. He also considered that all committees should pay a like amount. The chairman said that all were in agreement that a definite sum should be brought in from each committeeman, and that was the point that Mr Dash was driving at. Mr Dash said that Mr Gibb desired to upset that. It was explained to Mr Dash thav that portion of the appeal was not covered bv the motion. Mr Dash accepted the chairman’s explanation. He said that it was difficult to grasp the meaning of a circular when members had not had an onportunity of perusing it. It appeared to him at the outset that the anneal set down a schedule, and that Mr Gibb was desirous of upsetting it. The chairman said that if the motion was not carried, they would lose the sympathy and sunoort of a number of country committees. The Rev. Hav (St. Andrews) suggested that it should be made clear

that the amount behalf ol committeemen was a charge on incidentals.

Mr Curr asked if the amount required to be paid was additional to the present levy to the Association. Mr H. L. Warsaw (Waimataitai) said that it was not an additional levy. The amount of Is 3d suggested would be paid by the Association to the central fund on behalf of each committeeman. Mr Gibb said that apparently some members were hazy as to what he was after. The suggested levy was not an additional amount. At the present time each committee, whether it consisted of nine, seven or five members, contributed 2s 6d per member to the Association, and out of this the Association would contribute Is 3d per memnr to the central fund. As Mr Hay had said, the money would not come out of the pockets cf members, but could be made a charge on incidentals. He did not think the Association should commit itself fo a stated sum. The motion was then carried.