CANTERRURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1927, Page 4

CANTERRURY EDUCATION BOARD.

— ‘ C.HKJSTCHUBQ-l, Aug. 20. The Canterbury Education Board met yesterday; present:- —Alessis C. S. Thompson (chairman), 'NV • A. Banks. J. Maze, G. \V. Armitugc, W. H. Winsor, J. G. Gov, E. 11/ Andrews, \V. Johnson, B. Wild, T. Hughes, and AY:. r. Spencer. .Appointments made included—Ngahere, .Miss Ik McSherry, assistant mistress; To Kingtt, -Mr \V. R • Paine, sole teacher. Resignations accepted included Ahaura. Miss E. Duggan (to Barrytown) ; Kimbell, Dir K- S- I >a 'T ( u> Native School); Okarito, Miss M. Hevoldt. The Appointments Committco iepurted that the Department had declined to sanction the establishment oi a household school at Weheka and suggested that children ho enrolled on j correspondence classes. The Kanieri Committee asked lor a special rate for the conveyance <>l pupils from the lvokatahi district, and agreed to contribute towards the eosl. Tho proposal was agreed to. The report of tho Buildings Committee stated: A telegram and lettci wero received from the committee and foreman respectively reporting the destruction of the Rewanui (West Const) School by lire on the night <>l August lull. It was resolved to request Mr AVild (and Mr H. J. Bignell, if available) to arrange for an enquiry to bo held into the cause, of the lire, a report to he submitted also regarding the practicability of the conveyance of the children to the nearest

school. The Hoard expressed regret at the contimied illness of Mr H. J. Bigncll, ft West Coast member of the Nmrd, and a hope that he would he able c<> attend the board’s next meeting. proposed abolition. M r R. Wild read figures in opposition to the proposal to abolish Education Boards. Ho said that the Canterbury board had spent, on buildings during the year £68.345. and in other expenses, sum a» the conveyance of children and allowances to school committees, £35, 10. He wished to emphasise the point that the administration i.f education by the beard represented only U per cent of 1 lie total expenditure. It the hoard was abolished the It per cent would not be saved, as the stall was

fully occupied and the same cost of administration would he incurred il there was centralisation in Welling-

ton. The cost of board members was £f>27 lor the year; that represented sid per pupil under their supervision. For that the coinnmnitv had the services of ex-insneetors, ex-teachers and competent business men all the year round. Ho did not suppose that a

single day passed without some members of the hoard working in tho interests of education— visiting schools, interviewing school committees and parents, and so on, at a total cost for tho twelve members of only £B2/ tor the whole year. That was the financial side of the question. At that stage he did not think it was necessary to go into tho other side of the

question. Air O. S. Thompson (chairman): With overhead charges at If per cent X would have no hesitation in taking shares in the concern. Mr T. Hughes said that the boards were deeply interested in education. The figures should lie sent to every member of Parliament.

Mr Thompson said that meetings should be called in all districts, in. order that the position should be placed before the school committees. That could be followed up by a circular to members of Parliament, and school committees and local residents would have more influence than the hoard had with members of Parliament, as representations would come from the members’ constituents.

A circular was received from the Auckland board stating that the position was serious, and asking what the Canterbury board intended to do. Tho board decided, in the motion of Mr E. Andrews, that a. reply should bo sent that a special committee would 1 !D set up by the Canterbury board, and that a circular would be sent to momliers of Parliament. It was decided to ask the Education Board’s Association what steps wore being token a's to the proposed abolition Messrs Thompson, Wild, C. _'*• Arinitago and Andrews were appointed a special committee to watch the position and to tako what action it thinks necessary.