SCHOOL AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 39, 18 October 1946, Page 5

SCHOOL AFFAIRS

WHAKATANE COMMITTEE MEETS

USE OF COURTS GRANTED The last meeting of the Whakatane School Committee took place on Wednesday evening, Messrs. J. W. Wilson (Chairman), J. H. Duthie, G. E. Mahy, W. Whittaker, W. E. Armstrong, F. Clarke and G. H. Dainton being present. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs D. Paterson and F. W. Lysaght. Accounts totalling £26 6s' lid were passed for payment.

Use of Water An account for water totalling £l3 12s caused comment. The Chairman stated that the account was probably correct, explaining that until recently, low accounts had been received mainly because there was' no meter at the Infant School, and the ones at the high school were not functioning correctly. These had now been corrected and one at the Infant School installed, and as a result a stricter record was being kept. He did, however, think that 10/- per week for water was excessive. The committee agreed, Mr Clarke instancing occasions when he noticed a tap left on at the Infant School. The Chairman also stated that he had in the past noticed water running away over the ground at the High. School. . It was agreed that some form of supervision should be, introduced, particularly before school was closed on a Friday in order to avoid any unnecessary wastage. South Auckland Board The Chairman reported that the matter of the establishment of a South Auckland Education Board had been put before the ParentTeacher Association, where it had met with a strong approval. He did not, however, think that that body viewed the matter from the committee’s angle. (Readers will remember that the committee did not favour the establishment of a new Board as under the present Board, not only were the present needs of the school well understood, but a long-term plan had been drawn up and approved. It was thought that if the school were now placed under a new Board, ground that it had taken months to cover would have to be all gone over again with the chance that the Whakatane School would not receive nearly the consideration it now enjoyed. Ed.)

Concreting Work

A letter from the Education Board intimated that it could not allow the concreting work in front of the new school buildings to extend to 30 feet in order to match that fronting the old buildings. Twenty feet w£ts the maximum it could approve.

The Chairman commented that the restriction was doubtless due to the shortage of cement,- but that he would ask the architect to inspect the job during his next visit.

Tennis Club Request . A request was received from the newly-formed Whakatane Tennis Club for permission to use the school hard tennis courts, pending the laying of the club’s own courts. N The Chairman explained that he understood the club had a large prospective membership, and by having some facilities for play immediately available, it was hoped to maintain interest during the interim period. *" All gear of course, would be provided by the club. Mr Clarke thought that it could do no harm to grant permission, as the committee should do all it could to foster sport in the district. The Chairman added that although he did not think any levy should be made, the club might see fit to make a donation to the committee after say twelve months of use, towards the new sports pavilion which it was hoped to erect at the school. It was decided to let the club have the use of the courts subject to the following conditions: (1) Play to cease when the courts were required by the Basketball Club which had already been .granted the use of them; (2) that no Sunday play be permitted (Education Board policy); (3) that play be permitted on any evening of the week from 5 p.m. onwards with full day play on Saturday:, (4) that any damage to grounds or .equipment be made good; (5) that the club supply its own nets and equipment.