HOKITIKA SCHOOL COMMITEE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1917, Page 4

HOKITIKA SCHOOL COMMITEE

The usual monthly meeting of the Hokitika School Committee was held last evening at the Education Board s Rooms. Present —Messrs J. J. Clarke (chair), J. Lloyd, D. Stevenson, W. Shannon, S. Preston, A. Aitken, ana T. R. Hickson.

Tha ruiautea of last meeting were confirmed.

When dealing with the approval of the outward correspondence the Chairman read the letters that he had published in “Tbs West Coast Times” in answer to a leading art'cle therein which he considered required replying to, it bsing a very disgraceful artiole, full of inuendo.

Mr -Lloyd, in moving the approval of the correspondence, said he was of opinion that the Chairman had taken a wrong action in holding any enquiry as stated in his letter, If there was anything to inquire into the Committee should have bsen called

together. The Chairman said he had heard the ramora bat they had turned out to ba wrong so there was nothing to call the Committee together for, Mr Lloyd said there had been no oharge made. It was wrong to go to thepre33 oa behali of tho Committee. Mr Aitken said he agreed slightly with Mr Lloyd in his attitude, but he thought the Chairman had acted as he thought- was best. The paper’s facts were rather astray. The Committee’s action in closing the school was done in a proper manner. The article in question was a statement without facts, An unwarranted attack was made on a member of staff. Most members knew the tact that she had been called away in a hurried manner to meet a sick relative. Thes3 charges were simply made the stalking horses leading up to the grand attack, which was of a very nebulous character, There was no formal charge to deal with aud he thought the Chairman had somewhat exceeded hia power in replying to the attack. There was do further discussion and the motion for the approval of the outward correspondence was approved.

■From Mr Williams, appreciating expression of sympathy on the occasion of his son’s illness.—Received. From Ross Committee, forwarding 5e a filiation fee.—Received.

From Traffic Manager, acknowledging letter re train arrangements for tho school picnic, and stating that arrangements would be mad similar to last year.—Received.

From Humphrey’s committee, forwarding 5s affiliation fee.—Received. From Brunner Excursion Committee, asking local committee to arrange for thei r picnic on February 10th.—Received and agreed to. From Education Board, forwarding table of incidental allowances. —Received.

From same, farwarding to bo filled in.—Received, and balance to be forwarded.

Accounts amounting to £ll 15s 6d wero presented and passed for payment. Mr Aitken moved that Mr Stewart, Mr MdNaughton’s successor at the National Bank, be appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Mr McNaughton’s resignation. Seconded by tho chairman and carried.

Leave of absence was granted to tho Secretary (Miss Lloyd) for a niontu. It was stated that the incidental allowances for the Committee for the year for the up-keep of the sohool would be £BB and members agreed that it wonld be necessary to cut down the expenditure in every possible way.

It was resolved not to renew the telephone connection at the school, as a first portion of. the retrenchment.

In connection with the sohool excursion, Messrs Hiokson and Aitken were appointed collectors tor funds for same.

Mr de Berry, who was present, reported that when in Wellington and Christchurch he had interviewed the Department and Board with regard to the staffing of the school and as a result he had been assured that the services of Mbs Casey and Mrs Dale would be retained during 1917. He had also attended to other matters in Christchurch and expressed bis appreciation of the assistance received from Mr Kirk there. The Comm; tea rose at 9 p.m.