EDUCATION BOARD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 150, 20 March 1919, Page 8

EDUCATION BOARD

YESTERDAY'S MEETING A PAHAUTANUI MATTER '•llie Wellington Education Hoard met yesterday morning. There were present Messrs. T. Forsyth (chairman), W. H. liold. M.l\, li. M.'Cnllum, M.t'., J. J. Chirk. Ci. London, H. }', Jtislnvortli, E. M. Penny, 0. 1. Hnrkness. T. Moss, .[. Shund, A. W. Hogg, and It. A. Wright, W. H. Walton, chairman of the 1 altuiitanili School Committee, waited upon tho board to urgo that a new school be provided in his district. He told tho board that the present building was worm-eaten, and should no longer be allowed to be used. Every movement of the children brought down dust, which ■was a menace to their health. He named four sexagenarians ulio had received their education in the building. Tho place was too old. Parents had been compelled to ttika the drastic 6tep of withdrawing their children from the school. The step had not been taken by the advice of the committee, but had been decided upon at- a_ public meeting. The chairman replied that the allowance available for tho building of a new school ■at Pahautanui was insufficient. Tho board was not at all antagonistic to the committee's proposal, but it could not find the necessary funds. Ho suggested (hat Mr. Walton wait upon tho Minister and make to llMll. Mr. Walton said that he would see the Minister. Ho hoped that the Tfcard would not spoml another penny on tho old building. Miscellaneous Business. A deputation of Wallaceville residents waited upon tho board to ask that tho present school be not closed. The chairman replied that the representations of the deputation would bo very iully considered. There was not.uiig for tho .Wallaceville people to be alarmed about, as no steps had yet been taken. A letter from the Department, suggesting the establishment of a central store tor the supply of stationery to schools was referred to tho executive. A letter was received, conveying a warning t.hat the Department might havo to limit or refuse part of the subsidies wlu-.'.li it had mode a practice of paying upon voluntary contributions to the support of schools. Mr. Hogg said that tills would tend to discourage the payment of money for the improvement of schools. The following motion was carried; unanimously:—"That this board considered that no occasion has yet arisen for interfering with (ho system Ainder iviiic.'i subsidies are allowed on local contributions for. school purposes; and recommends that payment to.tho Masterfon and Uroytown school committees on account of trust funds be not discouraged or interfered with"

I.he Department instructed, the board tint house allowance should bo excluded from the compassionate allowance granted ro relatives of teachers who had died u-irKig the epidemic. Mr. 1?. A. Wright said that that might bo law, but it was not justice. lie moved, and the board decided, that the Minister be waited upon with a request that the instruction iJr leiund bo withdrawn.

''lie .chairman reported that he had received from the Minister a letter stating that the question of the Mount Cook sue |0l tho Wellington Training College Inil been settled. He. hoped to have full pameuia.'vs from the Minister very shortly.

The statement of accounts as at March !•> snowed, inter uiiii:— Receipts since lost meeting totalling £>5,070 7s. lid.; teachers salaries, Ji11,558 Is. 10d.; house allowances, .£295 ICs. Bd.; Training College students nllownnws, .£1033 J2s. (id.; total amount ofi payments authorised, .£19,987 7*. 'M.; Government grants due, .69407 IB?. 9ii.; expenditure (0 date (current maintenance of buildings, JC3453 13s. oil.; estimated cost of maintenance wo,'its authorised up io February 19, not yet completed, £3100.