DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4898, 9 October 1901, Page 3

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the above body was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Friday evenios:, when there were present: Messrs D. M*lntosh (chairman), J. Thompson, D, Walker, J, J. Gibson, J. Chalmers, J. C. A rbuckle, P. Uren, G. Jeffery (secretary),, and J. Norrie. CORRESPONDENCE. The Secretary to the Board intimated having paid to credit of commiht.ee the usual quarterly allowance of £11 5s, — Received. Tn reply to a letter from the committee drawing attention to the argent necessity for painting and repairs to the Rector's residence, the Board replied that the architect on his next visit to Lawrence would inspect same and report. It was pointed oat in the letter that the re-painting of the Rector's residence would not be due till 12 months hence. — The letter was roinnted as received. PEN AND INK CHARGE, Mr Thompson moved the motion standing in his name — viz.: "Tbat in future a charge of 6d per quarter be made for each pupil from the Third Standard upwards for the supply of pen and ink." In doing so, be said that the financial position of the committee necessitated the re-introduc-tion of this levy. Since its abolition some years ago the committee had been continually going to the bad. This charge was a very small one and would not press heavily on anyone and he felt confident the parents would pay it willingly. The Chairman seconded the motion. Since the adoption ot this levy the committee had been in a chronic state of impecuniosity and unable to carry out many little necessary works. This fee, while noD proving a hardship to parents, would be the means of giving them a little to help them along. Mr Arbuckle said that personally be had no objection to the charge but on principle he objected to it. It was the duty of the Board to supply them with sufficient money to carry out the necesBary work in connection with the Bohool and the more they did themselves the less the Board would do. He had no doubt that there were a number of families on whom even this small additional burden would press severely. Mr Jeffrey said he certainly must support the motion. They had not ■ been out or debb for years. Considering that those who had to pay the fee really got the benefit, he did not think parents could have any reasonable objection to the reintroduction of this charge. He ; did not approve of the idea that the Go- ' vernment should supply everything. The Board was not; in a position to in- : creaSe their allowance to the committees

and as it was necessary they should have more money, to carry out the requisite works he considered the system of charging for pens and ink preferable to raising money by means of a concert ; it certainly would prove cheaper io the parents, Mr Gibson said that no real necessity had boen shown for the reimposition of the tax and combated Mr Jeffrey's statement that they were unable to carry out the works which it was strictly their duty to attend to on the Board's allowance. Messrs Norrie and Uren also opposed the motion. It would, in their opinion, be a retrograde step and they questioned whether the parents would pay it. The motion on being put to the meeting was carried, the voting being — for : Messrs M'lntosh, Thompson, Walker, Jeffery and Chalmers ; against : Messrs GibsoD, Arbuckle, Norrie aqd Urea. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment : —Mrs Oliver, £1 l^s 4d j A. Mirohell, 12s { Geo. Walker, 12s 6i. This was all the business aud the meeting theu adjourned.