PIRONGIA

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3303, 30 May 1931, Page 5

PIRONGIA

STORMY MEETING OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the School Comrmittee, held in the Public Library on Thursday evening, Mr Buchanan presiding, sharp differences of opinion and a stormy passage generally was experienced. There was a full attendance of members comprising in addition to the chairman Mesdames Beet and Allport, Mr G. Owen and Mr T. C. Grace. The schoolmaster, Mr Richardson, was also in attendance. The minutes of the householders' meeting came in for some criticism from the lady members, who questioned the accuracy of the amount of expenditure mentioned as being spent on improvements. The chairman pointed out that well over £2OO had been spent on the new septic tank system in addition to a grant of £25 for improvement to the school paths and a good deal of valuable work done by working bees. The propriety of holding meetings in a private house was the next item to be questioned, as this method had been followed to some extent in the past when meetings were held at the house of the chairman. The secretary pointed out that the arrangement was made to suit the convenience of two members who lived on the western side of the river and because of the poor lighting arrangements and uncomfortable seats at the school. Mrs Allport proposed, and Mrs Owen seconded that future meetings be held in the school. This -motion was carried, defeating an amendment by the secretary, seconded by the chairman, to hold them in the Library. DENTAL CLINIC.

The chairman drew attention to the large number of children requiring attention and that to receive it it would be necessary for them to go to Te Awamutu. Mr Richardson said in all there were sixty children. The nurse would take them in relays of eight per day. Mrs Buchanan and Mrs Beet offered to take a car load, and the secreitary offered to ring up several car owners to see to the children on his particular road. SCHOOL CLEANING. The question of increasing the allowance for the school cleaning in view of the extra work involved since the commencement of the term was brought forward by the chairman, who showed the number of days and the amount per day earned in the past. After a discussion it was proposed to ask the cleaner to accept the additional work for the balance of the term without any increase in wages.—Mr Buchanan dissented. The chairman referred to certain rumours going about regarding the attitude of the old committee towards the master, and asked Mr Richardson for an explanation. This was forthcoming in the course of which the master said he greatly objected to the chairman's report at the householderse' meeting wherein it was stated that only 50 per cent of passes were secured by last year's sixth standard, whereas there was six out of eleven.

Mr Buchanan: Five passes and one competency. Mr Richardson: Six passes. A competency is a^pass. The secretary pointed out that the sixth standard was not mentioned by Mr Buchanan. Continuing, Mr Grace said the chairman had extended a special invitation to the master to attend the householders' meeting, and he had not attended. Mr Richardson: I was unable to attend, and gave the reason. He had not been told the reason for the invitation, he said, and in any case the regulations clearly outlined the privileges of the committee, which did not permit them to interfere in matters connected with the efficiency and progress of the school, which the chairman had persistently done. This was denied, and a lively exchange between the master and Messrs Buchanan and Grace took place. The latter finally asked the other members for an expression of opinion on the matter, but they appeared to be sharply divided. Mrs Beet proposed that the present committee resign and that an election of a new committee be held- as soon as possible. Mrs Allport seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.