Canterbury Education Board.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1922, Page 4

Canterbury Education Board.

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

The Canterbury Board of education met at'Christchurch. Present: Messrs G. W. Armitage (chairman), W. A. Banks, H. J. Bignell, E. H. Andrews, J. Gow, J. Jamieson, C. S. Thompson, A. Peverill, T. Hughes, W. P. Spencer and the Hon J. Grimmond. Permission was granted Miss E. K. Lilly, organising secretary of the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission, to visit the schools with a view to developing the interest of the children in the welfare of the Mission, subject to permission being obtained from school committees. It was decided to carry on the school children insurance scheme for another three months, it then being subject to revision. Correspondence was received from Mr S. Havill, Callaghans, in which it was stated that most of the children would be leaving the former district and the suggestion made that the school building be moved to Koiterangi. The matter was referred to Mr Bignell and Mr Grimmond for report.

An application was received for the provision of extra, accommodation for secondary pupils at Grcymouth. The Foreman’s action in arranging a room in the gymnasium was approved. The Department asked whether old material from Kumara or other school could be utilised in rebuilding operations at Ivanieri. It was resolved to reply that the scheme was not practicable and to ask for an early settlement of this question. The request of Mr J. A. Outtanee for the use of the school grounds, Okuru, in consideration for his services in looking after buildings and fences was granted. The supervisor’s annual report was read and adopted. It was recommended that a letter by sent to the Department

pointing out that the regulations re- j cently introduced for the election and ‘ appointment of managers of technical j schools are not meeting with general approval, and stating that the Board considers that better provision should he made for representation from local contributing bodies. This would ensure greater interest in the work, and materially assist the finances of the schools. It was also recommended that a letter he written to the Department, stating that the experience of this Board shows that the 2d per cent alio,,ed for incidentals is not sufficient to I meet all expenses of carrying on tcelmi- I id and continuation classes in the small '

country centres. The Board recommended that there was every need for economy at the present time. All the same, if a more- liberal allowance be not made, the rbsult will be that quite a number of small technical schools will have to close down. This would be a retrograde step, and one quite at variance with the policy of the Minister, who has stated that country technical and continuation classes should receive every encouragement. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee reported that a circular was received from the Department regarding the provisions of the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act on the Board’s officers. It' was resolved: “That, in view of the Prime Minister’s assurance that the retrenchment proposals related only to bonuses that had been paid during the past four years, and in' view of the explicit statement of the objects’ of thA Public Service Adjustment Act, as set out in the preamble thereto, vi/,., that as salaries had been increased owing to war conditions, and as such conditions no longer existed, it was essential to diminish such increased rates of remuneration, the Board emphatically protests against the injustice which the Department asks it to perpetrate, seeing that, when the bonuses were being paid to other branches of the service, the Board’s request that provision should be made for its officers was refused on two occasions by the Department, whose action in now proposing to reduce grants that were never increased is regarded as being most unfair.” The Department advised that the amount of the maintenance grant for the year ending March 31st, 1922, would he £19,148, a slight increase on the preceding year. It was resolved to recommend the Board to place £2OOO on fixed deposit for two years, such sum to be earmarked for rebuilding purposes. The report was adpoted. Appointments recommended included Arthur’s Pass, Mr J. F. Wilson, master.

Leave of absence was granted to Miss M. Mackinnon, mistress Lower Kokatahi, for 12 months; Kumara, Mr A. 11. Seebeck, headmaster, 0 weeks; Paroa, Miss E. Armstrong, assistant mistress, one month. Lower Kokatahi.—lt was agreed to express sympathy with Miss M. Mackinnon, who has been in charge of this school for over 22 years, and who now requires prolonged leave owing to illness.

Otira.—Miss M. O’Donnell, assistant mistress, was granted a month’s leave of absence without salary. The following resignations were receiver! and accepted :

South Spit.—Miss E. Dixon, assistant mistress; Wainrafe D.H.S., MF J Brunton, headmaster. In the case of Mr J. Brunton (Waimate D.H. School), it was agreed to express the Board’s appreciation of his good service, also its congratulations on his appointment as Inspector. If was reported that Mary C. Daly (St Mary’s Convent) 382 marks, and Frederic A. Barltrop (Greymouth D.H.S.), 34-5 marks, were the winners of the Seddon Memorial Medals. Tt was agreed to inform the Public Trustee accordingly, also to furnish him with a copy of the suggestions made by the Greymouth D.H. School Committee in the matter of the conditions governing the award. APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS. A letter was received from the Department requiring til’d’ Board to advertise in the “Education Gazette.” The Secretary reported that from complaints received from the Grey Branch of the Teachers’ Institute and a number of individual teachers, it appeared that the “Education 1 Gazette” had not reached many teachers in time for them to apply for the vacancies in this district, although the time for receiving applications had been extended till the 1 It'll lust. It was agreed t<- b- ing the matter under the notice of the Department and to point out that- at tbe Department’s request the Board bad specially altered its meeting from Hie first to the third Friday in the month. The Board’s list, of vacancies bad reached H? department on the 21st January. A further notice was received from the Department, to the effect that save in the ease of the first permanent appointment, no teacher is eligible for appointment to any vacant position before the expiry of at least one year after tlie date of his last permanent appointment, except in special cases approved by the Director on the recommendation of the Board.