GRANTSOUGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1933, Page 4

GRANTSOUGHT

BY HOKITIKA D.H,$. COMMITTEE A.pi' DEPUTAT«6n TO GOVERNORS/ A deputation from, the Hokitika Bistrict High School Committee waited on the High School Board of Goverriprs at its meeting yesterday afternoon regarding a grant of £6O-desired v'-. for equipping the SchooL library andrCprilr inercml ' department. ’ The deputation consisted of the chairman (Mr A. C. Armstrong), and the Rector (Mr J. L. Menzies). ._ ’ , \ ....h*,;'■ Mr Armstrong said that some time ago tlie committee had interviewed the Board’s secretary (Air T. \V. Bruce),re r garding the grant of £69 from the Board’s funds, but were advised l than that body was unable.. fo spend, a penny unless at the direction.of the Minister. The Minister was* thereupon written to asking that the grant- be authorised, but the reply was that lie had not the ..power to do so. Air Armstrong contended tliat if the Minister had no power to make the grant, he had , no power to withhold it. The library at the school at present was not worth calling a library, and Tie knew that ir the Board could make the money available, they would be ofaly too ready to assist. The committee desired to know the exact,position. He hoped the Board could evolve method of getting the grant to equip the school in the. manner required, r The chairman (Mr JAVA. Murdoch) i The Minister said'in his. reply that,lie had no authority ’to approve of the Board paying the mphey, ... ,' 9)’ ~

Air Armstrong: If tiie Board paid, would he disapprove? ) .'..-'.D The chairman: It would mean-thlt the Board would be paying without authority. /' ■ The chairman said that lie saw. a school committee report, in the- local paper to the effect that the Board hAd done nothing, but he wished’ to stress the fact that the Boafd had done 'everything it could tb assist the school.) Since 1927 large sums had be'6h;’ In 1927 £321, in, 1928 £277,; Tn £364, while iu .1929,' when they- anti; pated trouble through the legislation) to block-which they had'done whatAih'ey could, they had paid £&92, prised that it had been that”the Board had done nothing ; and also' nothing was said‘‘to refute tho statement. •

Air AV. H, . Shannon said that air explanation had been made. The chairman said tliat the Board’s funds had been collected bjf wise people in the idistrict in the interests of'the district, and he detailed, further)'wdrkthe Board had done in these interests, He assured the . deputation “ that ( the Board was shorn of all powers to nitVfce the School Committee any grant wlifftever. Could the deputation offer , ajiy suggestion whereby the situation cdifid be met? If so he would help them ,itV much as he could. , .-A; Mr Armstrong: Can you Hot ask the Education Board ? ~

The chairman said that they(iv#re prevented from doing that undery.the statute. The only thing he could, .siijg" gest would be to enlist the aid of the Member for the district and endeavour to secure a new machinery clau.se in the legislation amending present conditions. He added’'"that the Board was obliged to Watch ife finances carefully. The members received nothing for th'eir services, while the' secretary was .getting the minimum’honorarium. He 1 assured the deputation -that’ the Board’s sympathy was with thelh. ’ ' Further discussion ensued in which Mr Menzies and Mr Armstrong considered the question with the ’

Mr Menzies asked if it would be-.in order to apply to the Minister asking him for authority to spend money ill tile establishment of a library. A; special grant of £SO would- be -a' great help at present, although insufficient to . pubs'' vide an 1 adequate, library. He know that the Board had done excellent work in connection with the School. The chairman said that, the Board had two amounts, of £lB9 and £lB7 respectively, being moneys due to'the Education Board from the School Board’s revenue for the past- two years and this had still to be paid. If they could go to the Auditor-General and get authortiy to make the grant he would vote for it. “I am afraid the .day i s coming,” lie added, “when the whole lot of our funds are going to be collared.” . V

He recommended to the deputation that they write to the Auditor-General making application, and advising tjiat‘ they had the full support of the Bojird of Governors. ; >

The deputation accepted thfe recdmmeitflation and withdrew. . h