SCHOOL COMMITTEES,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12070, 27 July 1917, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES,

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION, REPORT ON INCIDENTAL ALLOWANCES. Tho Christchiirch School Committee'a Association met last night, Mr A. Peverili presiding over a larfre attendance. Tho secretary reported that in reply to a request from Henderson, Auckland, he had forwarded a- copy of the rules. A letter was received from tho Technical Board, stating that for tho election of one member of the board tho association had been grouped into tho Master Plumbers and Master Association, and the Omihi Farmers' Union. ..... The chairman .aid that the associate was unrepresented, and might as we »£» £° Guinea contribution. Tho _ other bodies liu<l fovon votes to the assoc ation'* one, and tho plumbers had appointed Mr Large without even consulting tho association Mr 0. Cole moved that at tho annual mcetinsr only new and re-elected delegates should be allowed to vote on tho election o officers and committee. He said that at present the outgoing delegates elected the officers for tho coming year, whlch waa a Mr'c, l-'er"V3on moved as an amendment that all members of affiliated School Committees should bo allowed to vote on all matters at the sumual meeting. Tho motion was carried by a largo majority. , , , . Mr Peverili, reporting. as a delogaio to the Wellington conference on tho subject ot incidental allowances, said that at the meetin" with the Minister there were ten members of Parliament present. The Minister seemed to think that the whole trouble came from Canterbury, but. ho h;id been informed that the deputation included representatives from all parts. Mr Bewley had put up a splendid case for Otago, where coal curds iiad had to be i?.med to the children. A strong case had alto been put forward from Canterbury, but tho time limit w«3 ridiculously small. In the Canterbury incidentals hud been £70.10, and in 1015 they were i'l 7s Gd less. In oiprht year?, on tho other hand, the administrative expenses of tho Education Department hud jumped from £.|ftf)o to .€12,600. The Minister's appeal for self-heln was absurd. Tho Education Council had done no solid work, except discuss c'fntrnlisation. The committees must associate, mid he wa.i fjlad to say that they had the support of all the private members approached. Mr Hunan had promised a war-time incrc&'e. His excuse to every deputation wan that tho boards could pay more if they lilted, but he had read to him tho complaint of the Department regarding the hisrh*incidentals paid at a time when tho amount was hnvelv sufficient. ]f the committees did not pet satisfaction, tho wholo of the committees in New Zealand should go over tho head of thae Minister of Education to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Mr "Witty, however, had promised to hold ur> tho Estimates if the amount was insufficient. Ho had ten members to support him, and the position reemed hopeful. The secretary (Mr T. Thompson) also reported on tho results of the de-nutation, expressing the view that if members of Parliament knew tho work nf tho committees they would be more sympathetic. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the delegates. _____________