SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1791, 23 June 1906, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ CONFERENCE

LOCAL ASSOCIATION FORMED

A meeting of deb gates from tha various 'Oi'Ool O'lmuntsoes in the dismict wa< held

in the TfChnioa! Sohiol last eveoiDg. Theie Wire prpserit : Messrs Somervell, Wildish, Nisbi tt, Brown, Johnston, Baric v (Gishoroe). Field (MaUauri), Lougher (W rerrDga Hi>bikai, Bayliss, Sergeant, Ovendsn. Angland (Patutahi), Grundy, G.iidsmi'h, Levey. Ellery (Mangapapa), Mnir (Matawhero), Fyson, Sparrow (Haiti), Hay, Taylor (Whatatntu), File (Tolago Bay), Gibson (Fraaertowo). Mr Somervell was elected to the obair. The Chairman stated that at the annual meeting ot householders the incoming committee was instructed to support the formation of a separate Education Board for this district. It was resolved to call tho committees together to disouss the matter. Some three years ago a ciroular was sent to the various committees on the subjeot. Some were in favor and others were adverse, and the matter was allowed to drop. The inattention of the Education Board in regard to correspondence had brought the matter up again. The powers of a school committee were very small, but there were certain times when they

had to step in and rectify anything that was going wrong They could also discuss the subjeot of representation on the Board. There was another matter that might be difcassed, and that was the formation of a School Committees’ Association. Intimation was received from Mr MoLaren regretting his inability to be present, Tho Tolago Sohool Committee wrote oppoinlirg Mr W. L. File a delegate, and the Fraaertown Committee appointed Mr W. Gaudin. Mr Wildish proposed that the meeting form itself into a Sohool Committees’ Association.—Mr Hay seconded. After ditcussion the motion amended as follows was carried, “That this coavention rotolve that a Committees’ Association be formed.” Messrs Grundy, Fyson, Field, Barlow, and Brown were appointed a sub-com-mittee to draw up a constitution and submit to a futuro meeting. The quostion of a separate Education Board for tho distiicl was then dis-

oussed. Mr J. C. Field spoke strongly in favor of the proposal, and compared Gisborne district (based on the 1904 allowance) with other districts in New Zealand, The istimated expenditure would be as follows: Inspector and secretary combined, £SOO ; office expenses, including stationery and printing, £125 ; lowest allowance to sohool oommittees for cleaning, etc., £850; totaV 1 £1475. The estima’od inoome was £1099 13s 94, 1955 obildren at 11s 3J capitation. The Department would pay the salaries of I teachers, and the Board would receive £250 per annum, together with the capi tation, In the proposed district there would be 25 Bohools, showing an average I attendance of 1955, and in the Hawke’s Bay district there were 88 schools, with an I attendance of 7357.

Mr Brown and other gentlemen stroDgly advocaod tho formation of a separate Board. Mr Bayliss considered that the district wa« not yrt la-ge enough. Mr Barlow proposed that the meeting urge at once tbe formation of a separate , Education Board for this district. M> Dart, n seconded the motion. He Baid tbe Gißborno School Committee had I been instructed at tbe householders’ meelI iog to support the scheme. It would be I some time before this could be brought I shout, as a separate Act of Parliament I would bo required. Iu tbe meantime tbey should do all in their power to improve I the condition of affairs in their district. He thought tboy should endeavor to bring 1 forward in tbe meantime three represent-,* 1 tives who would go to Napier aDd repra I sent them on tbe Board. I Mr Bayliss pointed out that at the last , mooting of tho Toaoherc’ Institute, it was

raontionod that the sum of I!13,000 had been spent in this district over capitation. ) The Chairman pointod out that there wore several largo oduontion endowments that tho dislriot was ontitlod to which now wont to Auckland. It would bo one of tbo duties of tho Association to sec that their endowments wore not usod for somo othor purpose. Tho motion was oarried unanimously. Mr Darton moved that a copy of the resolution bo sent to thoir membor and tho Pr< inter, with a requost that tho nooessary legislation bo brought in this session that will provide for tho formation of a separate Eduoation Board for this district. .... Mr Hay seoondod tho motion, whioh was carried, It was dooided to nominate three members to tho Board, and Messrs Morgan, Darton, and Brown woro duly nominated. Mr Eilo proposed that the oommitloo appointed take over tho minutes oftbe meeting and attend to tho resolutions arrivod at.

It'was dooided to hold the next meeting that night fonr weeks. At a subsequent meeting of tho 00mmittoe Mr Brown was oleotod obairman and Mr Barlow seorotary.