SCHOOL AFFAIRS

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 190, 20 August 1935, Page 6

SCHOOL AFFAIRS

Waipukurau District High

and the education board

VISIT FROM OFFICIAL PARTY

The chairman (Mr. G. A. Maddison), Mr. W. Cuthbertson (Central Ward member), and Mr. W. L- Dunn (secretary), representing the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, paid a visit to the Waiukurau District High School Committee and the Home and School League’s representatives last night.

Committeemen present were: Messrs. W. G. Cook (chairman), R. Guy, L. R. Grant, E. W. Taylor, H. De Lacey, E. J. Turner. E. G. Dowrick, and F. Sayliss (honorary secretary). The headmaster (Mr. E. E. C. Boyes) also attended. Mr. R. Brassell (chairman) and Mrs. E. W. Taylor (honorary secretary) represented the Home and School League. At the outset of the conference the chairman of the School Committee extended a cordial welcome to the official educational party. Mr. Maddison expressed the pleasure of the visitors as to meeting the members of the committee.

Mr Cook traversed the expenditure of the local committee in respect of the various works carried out, a lengthy list being oultined. Ground improverhents, tree-planting and the construction of a concrete retaining wall were specially mentioned Tennis courts were under construction. The purchase of typewriters and a piano were referred to. also the part played by the Home and School League in respect of several undertakings. Assistance through the Unemployment Fund was also remarked upon. The provision of an assembly area was pointed to as the most essential of outstanding proposals, a comprehensive scheme of tar-sealing having been contemplated with the board’s hoped for assistance. Mr. Cook showed that for the four years prior to 1935 the money expended on ground improvements at both schools had totalled £3661, including £3396 from the Unemployment Fund, £196 raised locally and £69 found by the Education Board. £720 was raised prior to 1932 by means of a Queen Carnival, and was also largely expended on the

grounds. Mr. Dowrick backed up the remarks of the chairman of the committee, pointing specially to the need for tar-sealing work at the playground. The public had supported the school well in the past, but he felt that there was disappointment in respect of the application for sealing. He realised that the board had special financial troubles to face. Mr. Guy also spoke and said that he too appreciated the difficulties being faced by the board. He supported the hope expressed by Mr. Dowrick that the matter would be pressed in Education Department circles. Mr. Brassell, as chairman of the Home and School League, endorsed the representations put forward by the prevous speakers. Mr. Taylor said that the tar sealing was the last important proposal for placing before the board. Mr. Turner expressed the view that a good tar-sealing job would be practically a permanent one.

Board Chairman’s Reply.

Mr. Maddison commented on the fact that the primary school site had proved a costly one, with the result that the board and the committee had been placed under a handicap. He referred briefly to the fact that a recent amendment of the Education Act had made the position of boards very difficult. He fully appreciated the work of the committees, and the members had his sympathy in respect of their efforts. His protests on their behalf had only brought one answer from three Members of Parliament. Messrs Campbell, Jull, and Barnard, the latter advising the Minister’s point of view—that the legislation would not materially affect boards. The special legislation complained of only allowed the board to expend £240 annually on 288 schools. In the course of the past 10 years school committee had voluntarily raised £500,000 for purposes of maintenance—displaying a very praiseworthy spirit of helpfulness. The Department had not been able to point to any failure on the part of the board, and he hoped that the committees would support the protest against the curtailment of grants for general maintenance purposes. The Government grants for ' the maintenance of buildings for recent years had been as fol--1 low: 1930, £6872 15/-; 1931,

£5313; 1932, £4049 10/-; 1933, £3590 10/-; 1934, £4469 10/-;

and 1935, £4700. The Unemployment Minister (who is Minister of Education) had agreed to a grant of 30 per cent, for new building works. He had told the Minister that the position of boards was becoming intolerable—members knew the needs of Hawke’s Bay better than did the Minister. He said that the board had become embarrassed by the fact that costly repairs had been necessary as the result of asphalt and tar-sealing works. He would favour the use of a hotmix as a satisfactory alternative to concrete in connection with the Waipukurau Committee’s proposed assembly area. The board was familiar with the undertakings of the committee. Since 1924 the board had been committed to an expenditure of £1604 on the Waipukurau School.. In conclusion he expressed special pleasure at the presence of representatives of the Home and School League.

On the subject of the request for a grant toward an assembly ground he would support the representation made, and would endeavour to secure a visit to the school from the Minister of Education -when he next came to Hawke’s Bay. The local school was one of the finest in the education district. In reply to Mr. Do wrick the chairman of the board said that he would be prepared to forward the local application on to the Department if so desired . General Discussion. Mr. Dowrick expressed an opinion in respect of the assembly scheme, in favour of concrete, and Mr. Brassell endorsed this viewpoint. Mr. Cook said that parents had objected to concrete as being more dangerous to scholars. Mr. Guy observed that the main difficulty was to get a subsidy for the proposed work, irrespective of the question of the use of concrete oi any other material. Matter of a Cycle Shed.

In reply to Mr. Cook, Mr. Maddison stated that no funds had been available for the erection of a cycle shed. He would support an application for a grant from the Unemployment Board's fund.

Mr. Cook said the cost would be about £26. He offered congratulations as to the excellent work of the board's staff in regard to painting the school.

Mr. Cuthbertson expressed satisfaction with the result of the visit. The board had learnt a lesson as to taking over a school from the department before it had been fully completed. He complimented the chairman and his committee on their progressive policy. A meed of praise was also given by the speaker to the Home and School League, and he spoke in eulogistic terms in respect of the grounds at the Secondary Department. Mr. Guy said that the committee fully appreciated the position disclosed by the chairman, and the visitation had helped to clarify matters. Consolidation of schools. Subsequently Mr. Dowrick raised the issue of a consolidation move embracing several country schools and the Sanatorium. It would tend to solve the latter centre’s problem. The proposal was no new one. he said.

Mr. Cook also spoke on the subject and stated that several Hatuma parents had broached the subject. The run would not exceed 14 miles. Marakeke would form part of the consolidated area.

Mr. Maddison said that consolidat ed movements had proved successful, and pointed to several illustra tions of the mental betterment o scholars.

Mr. Dunn observed that there would be 18 Hatuma. 12 Marakeke, and 12 Sanatorium primary children, as well as several secondary scholars, involved.

Mr. Maddison said that the board would investigate the proposal, which he commended. Tribute to Ward Member.

The chairman of the committee paid a special tribute to the services rendered by Mr. Cuthbertson. The chairman of the board also spoke similarly, saying that Mt. Cuthbertson was a very keen advocate on behalf of Waipukurau. Incidentally, he said that he admired a committee with “some kick in it” —as this characterteristic tended to reveal an active body! The Official Visitors Thanked.

Mr. Cook expressed appreciation of the visit from the board’s representatives, and the meeting closed with a general expression of thanks to Messrs. Maddison, Cuthbertson and Dunn.