SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9302, 31 July 1908, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the School Committee's Association was held last evening. There were about twenty persons present, and Mr F. Coles presided. The annual report stated that among important matters dealt with during the year had been the questions of the medical inspection of schools, the single desk, readjustment of the staffing of schools and salaries of teachers, improvement in the mode of electing the Canterbury College Board of Governors and the Education Boards, the inadequacy of city representation on Education Boards and the need for fire escape facilities in schools. In order to impress the importance of those matters upon various bodies interested, vigorous propaganda work had been inaugurated. A large number of organisations had expressed sympathy with the Association's objects, and at a conference the Association's x*esolutions had been unanimously reaffirmed. A deputation had waited on the Premier, and he had given a modified promise to do much in the direction of the desired reforms. The Premier had given a good reception to a deputation on certain of the subjects mentioned. The report concluded with expressions of thanks to those members who had worked hard to further the objects of the Association. The balance-sheet showed receipts, including the credit balance at the beginning of the year of £3 9s 7d, amounting to £11 18s 7d. The expenditure had totalled £10 6s 3d, leaving a credit balance of £1 12s 4d. The assets were £1 6s and the liabilities £2 7s. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Dr O. J. Russell moved that any member of a School Committee might become an active member of the Association upon application to the executive and payment of an annual fee of 2s 6d. The proposal, he said, would enable the Association to obtain membership from committees not wholly in sympathy with the Association, and unelected members would be able to represent to their committees the true attitude of the Association. After a" discussion lasting half an hour as to whether the motion was in order or not, an amendment by the Rev I. Bernstein, to the effect that no motion affecting "the rules or constitution could be discussed without notice, was carried.

On Dr Russell s motion it was decided that a special meeting should be called, at a date to be fixed by the chairman, for the purpose of revising the constitution, and that an advisory committee should the meantime go through the rules and report to the meeting

It was resolved that the officers and executive should be the advisory committee.

The election of officers resulted as follows: — President, Mr W. R. Smith; rice-president, Mr J. Butterfield : secretary, Mr I). Lumsden ; treasurer, the Rev I. Bernstein; committee, Messrs ,7. Spiller, H. Langford, J. Weir,. J. ». Colville, C. W. White and C. A. Eldridge. It was resolved that the secretary should be paid a nominal salary. On Mr Bernstein's motion it was resolved that steps should he taken by the committee to induce those school committees not represented on the Association to affiliate with it and send delegates. On the motion of Mr C. H. A. T. Opie hearty votes of thanks were passed to Dr Russell for his energy and liberality, to Mr Lumsden for his cenerous services as secretary, and to the executive, and the meeting closed.