SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10915, 3 November 1913, Page 7

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

? INCIDENTAL EXPENSES ' AND CARETAKERS' SALARIES. A general meeting of the North Canterbury School Committees' Association was held on Friday evening in the Young Men's ' Christian Association's rooms, when Mr John Jamieson and Mr E. H. Andrews, members of the North Canterbury Board of Education, : were present. In the absence of:the president; Mr J. Spiller was voted to t>he chair. • • x ;Mr A. Peverill (East Christchurch) ptoved—" That the action of the executive be affirmed 1 in ; regard to 1 the Canterbury College Amendment Bill, and that they be empowered to take .any further action if necessary." The motion was seconded by Mr D. Lumsden and carried. On the motion of the chairman, a vote of condolence was passed to Mr J. C. Adams (chairman of the Board of Governors) in his recent bereavement.

Mx- M. W. Wood-field moved and Mr W. H. Denton seconded—" That this meeting elect a deputation,. representing all the schools affiliated with the Association, to lay before the Education Board the necessity of urging the Department to increase the incidental allowance equal. to 9d per head." The mover said that the incidental allowance was. a very vexed question. They did not for a moment wish to harass the Board, but the time had come when this matter must be dealt with "in a more practical way. Mr Denton strongly supported the resolution. and a very large number of delegates took part in the discussion, which clearly showed how difficult it was to carry on the School committee work efficiently under the present conditions. Both the Board members replied at length, sympathising with the committee in the difficulties under which th<3y laboured. The resolution was carried unanimously. The following schools will be represented on the deputation:—Addmgton, East Christchurch, Elmwood, St Albans, Sydenham, Somerfield, Spreydon., Heathcote, Linwood North, Waltham, Wharenui, West Christchurch and Sumner.

At this stage Mr Large (the president) apologised for being late, and took the chair. A further discussion took place on the matter of caretakers' salaries, and Mr W. A. Sheldon moved the following motion:—" That this meeting elect a deputation to interview the North Canterbury'"'Board _of Education regarding salaries paid to the,caretakers of the various schools, pointing out the present low rate existing all round." The motion was seconded by Mr J. Butterfield. During a very animated discussion of the subject, one speaker said that it would be better to do. away with the present system of heating the schools'(with coal fire) and instal heaters such as those in use in tho West Christchurch School. If this were done there would soon be money, to spend on the purpose in question. A treasurer of a large school said: " When we pay -die caretaker and the coal bill during the winter months, we exceed our income, and as_ a business man I object to be put in such a position." The chairman, said there was not much satisfaction in being a committeeman under the existing conditions. It was finally decided that the former deputation should put before the Board the question of caretakers' salaries. It was asked if other schools not represented at the meeting would be allowed to take part in moeting the Board on this question. The chairman said they could do so if they communicated with the secretary at once.