Levin School Committee

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 July 1915, Page 3

Levin School Committee

SPiiUAL MEETING. A jueeting of the Levin School Committee'was held in the i. M. C. A. rooms last evening to consider the present position in connection with the school which has oeen commandeered by tho Defence Department for a squad of 200 soldiers from the Trentham camp. There were present: Messrs A. Sims (chairman), H. C. Gapper, F. O. Smith.'W. Thomson, JN. C. Holdaway, Rev. W. H. E. Abbey, and Mh J. McIntyre (headteacher). The Chairman eaid that while they could not do much he felt that it was the duty ot the committee to safeguard the children. He gathered that the malady affecting the troops was not diminishing, on the contrary he heard that a further 20 beds had been ordered for the temporary hospital Mr Smith considered that it was a shame that the school should have been taken at all; there were plenty of halls available. Ho wanted to know how they came to got into the school in the first place. Mr Maclntyre said that the keys had been demanded of him about 9.30 on Saturday night. He went with one of the officers and opened the school. Mr Thomson, said that he understood that tho officers wished to keep the men together and not have thoru scattered in halls about the town. Rev W. H. E. Abbey said that they should not say anything to embarrass the Government. , They should rather express sympathy with the men: he felt sorry for them; for what they went through on Saturday. They did not know what was the position at Ireiitham yet. The whole thing might be the work of a German spy. The men might have been poisoned. Mr Thomson said he saw the men arriving at the station and he felt extronely sorry for them. The men had ha-- nothing to eat since seven o'clock on Saturday morning and were cold and hungry. One man had eoTlaspsed on the platform. The whole scTiool building would be thoroughly disinfected before it was used again by the enndreu. The Chairman said that was the only point. If that were done it would be alright. Several parents had approached him in regard to tho books. An officer had assured him that things would be left thoroughly cleaned. uMr Smith said that the school certainly was the best place for the men. They could be kept inside and not iet wander about the town and drill could be carried on. Mr Gapper considered that there would not be slightest danger as the place would be fumigated thoroughly. Mr Thomson, said that the department would clean the school just as well as they cleaned the railway carriages, which were sealed up until fumigated. He was told by the officers that the men would be out as soon as possible. Mr Manlntyre said that the medical officer told him that they would be out by Tuesday. The Chairman said that an officer had told him in the presence ot several other members of the school committee, that the troops would bo there for a mouth. Several coinnntteenien corroborated this. Mr Thomson moved that tho committee endorse the action of the headtoachor in opening the scliood to the troops at 9.30 p.m. on Saturday after travelling from Trenthani, and that tho Health Department be asked to take all precautions in the matter of disinfecting the books and building after the troops leave. And that this committee satih'es itself that the buildings, furnishings and books are thoroughly disinfected before resuming school. Mr Gapper seconded the motion: The motion was carried.