MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1931, Page 2

MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS

MONDAY, APRIL 27. AT HOKITIKA. Tim annual meeting of householders was held at the Town Hall at 7.30 p.m. Present—Mr S. -T. Preston voted to the chair, and eleven householders only four outside of the Committee attending. The minutes were read and confirmed. ANNUAL REPORT. Ladies and Gentlemen, —Your Com. mittee have much pleasure in reporting another satisfactory year in matters generally affecting the School. Nothing of any outstanding, importance occurred during the year to hamper the smooth running of the Institution and it can, he considered that the whole term has been responsible for sound and sol’d progress in all departments of School life. The change in Rectorship in the early part of the year caused some little delay in settling down to the usual routi He hut since taking up his elutes oil the 2nd. May, Mr .1. ii. Metlzies, oti r new Rector, lias quickly adapted himself to his new surroundings and is carrying out his duties iff a very satisfactory manner.

The finances of the School still continue to he in a very healthy condition as will be shown in the balance sheet.

The withdrawal of the Department’s £1 for £1 subsidy- on grtxnn-d expenditure has se-iously curtailed the efforts of the Committee during the year; and this, combined with the very meagre capitation received, would have been a very serious matter for the School, had we not received such generous support from the community.

A sum of £SO has been offered to the Canterbury Education. Board to assist in building a new room for the proposed metal work classroom. This sum, combined with the amount due on outstanding accounts, leaves a very small margin with, which to commence tho new year. The Department has advised, the Committee that it is expected to provide a sum of £3O for each of the Dental Nurses employed in the Clinic, to take effect- from the Ist. April. It will readily he seen that the new Committee-will have to exert the strictest' economy in the coming year, and that, expenditure will have to be. curtailed to absolute necessities only. Both the School Fair and Concert resulted in very handsome returns to the School Funds, and the thanks of the Comrriittee ate due to the Staff and pupils for their splendid efforts in this connection, The Dental Clinic is again doing good work under the capable management of Nurse James. Tho monthly Clinic reports show that a large amount of work is being done. The co-operation of the parents in this matter will considerably assist the work of the Nurses and be very beneficial to the children. Considering that the Committee are faced with an. expenditure of £6O over and above the ordinary Clinic maintenance it will be necessary, during the coming year, to go into ways and means of raising funds to make the Clinic self supporting, or at least to provide for some alleviation of the heavy expenditure that will be entailed.

The Committee wish to express, appreciation of the services of Mrs Wilson, who, on account of ill health, is unable to offer her services for a further term. We wish to thank the ‘’Guardian” for their assistance during the year, also Mr It. Wild, our representative on the Canterbury Education Board, for his continued efforts on behalf of the School, and finally, we wish to express our sincere, thanks to the Rector and his Staff for their loyal service during the. year. Their hearty support and co-operation in all matters concerning the School are worthy of emulation by all branches if the teaching profession.

Reference was also made to the school band, • which had been arranged and tutored by Mr Richards, proving a distinct credit to Mr Richards and band alike.—Received.

' The balance sheet was read, the gen. eral account showing no funds, while the grounds fund showed a oredit balance of £s6.—Received and adopted. Mi*, redder objected to the demand by the Department for provision of £6O (£3O for each nurse), by the Committee for the dental clinic. He moved that the meeting convey its protest' to the Director of th e Dental Division. Seconded by Mr Conning. Mr Armstrong thought it inadvisable to carry the motion. They knew (■the CoAirrnment were hard up. Ho thought it would Iks better to make a small charge for each child treated at the clinic. Mr Richards supported the attitude of the Chairman. He thought they yn r o getting very fair treatment considering the times. The motion was carried on a show of hands. The report was then agreed to. RECTOR’S REPORT. Ladies and Gentlemen; I have much pleasure in submitting a report on the school from the date of my taking charge. Roth in the school and on the playing fields good progress appear* to have been made. Particularly pleasing were the proficiency examination results, ovkr 90 per cent of the pupils

gaining proficiency certificates. The number of these who proceeded to the High School was also most pleasing. In the Secondary Department 17 pupils were admitted to Senior Free Places by recommendation, 8 passed the Public Service Entrance examination and 2 Matriculation.

Tli c roll numbers of both Departments were well maintained and the average attendance in both lias been fairly satisfactory. There are cases, however, where it is apparent the quoKtiou of regular attendance is not given the serious attention it and I take this opportunity of asking parents to give me their fullest cooperation in this respect, as without regular attendance good results cannot he obtained. The roll of the Primary Department at the present time ii 328 and that of the Secondary is 111.

Shortly after my arrival last year tl*' Prefect system wa, s established in in the Secondary Department, the matter having been under consideration just prior to Mr Partridge’s departure.

This year a new Course*, Arts and Crafts, was introduced into the Secondary Department with a view to affording pupils a greater scope. The Course is now well establish'd and promises to he a success. The girls of the Secondary Department. arc, 1 am plea-sd to say. enthusiastic over their basketball and their displays are invariably of a high order. Last season, unlbrtuhately; very few matches could ho arranged, but in those we were able to arrange tlie girls acquitted themselves wry well indeed. On June 3rd a basketball tournament is now held, and lad year our girls lost the cup by only oir:> point. Matches against Reef ton and West Christchurch District High School were much appreciated. The Secondary school hoys, though receiving few importunities for matches continued with commo’dnb] • zeal their practices with the result that, "hen they did meet a really good team of West Christchurch High School boys, they wen: able to give an excellent account of themselves.

Our Primary School hoys, with the assistance of two Or three hoys from the surrounding were successful in their match against AYi-fitport for the Newman Shield.

This year, in view of the fact that sc few outside matches can be arranged for our scholars, and in ord.u co provide adequate sport for all, it has been decided to make a sport’s levy of 2s (id a term, a practice followed in all secondary schools. r l hi« will enable us to provide adequate material for all players and to meet V’xpcnjses in connection with their various games.

The swimming sports this season were, to me, disappointing, the number of entries being considerably below what might he expected from a School of tins size, and, in view of this, 1 hope next season to he able to encourage this activity which is rcallv aa essential.

The adoption of school uniform is by no means complete in our Secondary Department and I am most anxious to secure the co-operation ot parents in this matter which, to my mind, is of very great importance. This view is shared by the -Senior Inspector of Secondary Schools who recently visited us and who exorted the pupils to adopt the recognized school uniform. The adoption in full, must. I realize, be a gradual process but I triast that before long no High School pupil will be wearing any but the recognized school uniform. In conclusion., I wish to express my hearty appreciation of the loyal and Avilling co-operation of both parents and School Committee during the time that I have been among you. Such co-operation and loyalty are seen in the sums of money raised for School purposes and in the billeting fiom tjmp to time of members of visiting school team*. Such a spirit makes the work of the Rector much more pleasing. The Rector in conclusion referred to Friday’s function at the School, which had bom so excellently reported in that night’s evening paper, and h e expressed bis appreciation of the excellent reports of school functions provided by the “Guardian.

The Rector’s report Avas received and adopted. The Chairman moved that a vote of thanks be recorded to Mr Richards for so ably arranging and teaching the School Band. Seconded by Mr Kearns and carried by acclamation. Mr Richards acknowledged the vote expressing his pleasure at being able to win their approval. SELECTION OF COMMITTEE. The Chairman announced that there were only nine nominated for the nine seats and he declared the following duly elected as a Committee ror the ensuing year—Messrs A. C. Armstrong, J. Conning, W. E. Richards, R. J. Pedcler, W. H. Shannon, F. Chesterman, J. J. Breeze, H. R. Swenev and A. McDougall. \ PROTEST. Mr Armstrong said he felt that some, thing should he said of the action of the Government in confiscating the whole of the funds of the Hokitika School Board. The moneys was raised by endowments for the. inauguration of a High School at Hokitika and while the High School Board was functioning he thought it was wrong for their funds to be taken over by the Government. The Hokitika School Committee had a District High School and he thought the funds of the High School Board should have been made available for the work of the District High School. He moved that an emphatic 'protest he forwarded to the Prime Minister and Minister of Education at the con-

fiscation by the Government of tho funds of the Hokitika High School Board. Air Richards seconded the motion. He pointed out that the Hokitika Committee had * raise funds to carry on the work of the- High School. Air Shannon supported the motion making his protest, at the action of the Department especially the action of the Department in cancelling tlu* bursaries which the Board had arranged and which by the action of the Department had been cancelled, so creating a breach of contract which particularly affected country scholars attending the District High School. Tin* motion was agreed to. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair.

NEW COMMITTEE. The new Committee then met there being jiresent—Alessrs Armstrong, Conning. Shannon, Redder, Richards, Cheste.rman and Sweiicy. Air Armstrong was re-elected Chairman, Air .J. Conning Hon. Secretary and Air H. Sweney Hon. Treasurer. Alessrs Armstrong and Conning were appointed visitors for the month. Alt Ail Gil A HOAD Tlie iiiuittai meeting of Householders was held in the School room, an attendance of over fifty being present. Air A. Richards (the Chairman of the outgoing Committee) was voted to the Chair. The report and balance sheet was read and adopted. The Chairman then called for nominations for a new Committee, the following being received : Airs >J. Douglas, Alessrs H. Finch, \\ . Dove, A. Richards, A. Bradley, J. Finch and C. Cook. A Committee of five only being required, a ballot was taken, tlie voting being as follows.

A. Richards 20 H. Finch 28 W. Dove 28 A. Bradley 24 J. Finch 21 C. Cook 20 Air J. Douglas 10 Air W. Dove and Air C. Cook were appointed scrutineers. The Chairman announced the first five duly elected as a Committee for the ensuing term. At a meeting of the newly elected Committee Air A. Richards was elected Chairman and Air H. l’incli Hon Secretary and Treasurer. AT AVOODSTOCK. At tlie meeting of Householders last evening the old Committee wore reelected —Alessrs J 1 ); Bloop (Chairman), R. Wells (Secretary), 13, J. Wells, A. Rogers mid -I. Camon, AT "kaNIERI. At Kanieri the old Committee was re-elected —Alessrs F. AY, Selby (Chairman), R. Chesterman, A. It. Elcock, E>. Howat and AY. Camming.