HIGH SCHOOL BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1933, Page 5

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD

SPENDING POWERS

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER,

, A deputation from' tile ' Hokitikai High 'School Board waited on the Acting-Minister ol; ,l ( Education (the Hon.-.J. Bitcheriex'j, !,dast evening regarding a grant for* a school library, in particular, and the principle of the Board’s expenditure of; its own monies.

The chairman of the Board (Mr. J. A. Murdoch), said that in 1884 am Act. was passed creating the High School Board of Governors. Thin Board was there given certain endowments to' create h High School in Hokitika. Revenue from the lands with which the'Board-was endowed now. saw"; between £4OOO of £SOOO invested, hut the Board could not spend any of it. By the recent legislation the Board' now had to hand' over part of it« revenue to the Canterbury Education Board.

v ‘‘We want to do without the help of this Board,’’ added Mr Murdoch, “and do our own work .In our;'own why. VVe want the' power to spend the money in the place where itv-was raised, and .we want’ your assistance to-this extent'i- Vv '

The school needed a'library, and the •Board wanted) to give /them £2OO/ but they could,pot. spoilt their own money 1

Tile Rectop (Mr/if, ly. that;, they Tvero not asklngrlfo'r extra • money, hut fbi*..authority for the Rpard' to spend its oyvn on : a worthy cause, ’ The .Board had . done good work in granting scholarships;/ihr" children in outlying districts)'■■.but;-' These had nowbeen withdrawn' • resulting:-in the loss of / additional;. pupils; The secondary department at the School was about fourth in order in district; high schools in the- Dominion, hut; as far as a library/jvas concerned they were practically'barren. Most other schools were well equipped, and the - pupils here should’ be/just fte for as iii other secondary;' schools. ! The library, was urgent and. steps should, be taken fbr : its. -’provision'/ Without it the Schqql could- along t the desired , and reqiiired iline?.;- , - ; He t-hoped - that authority would given' ; for' ■ the' • relhftlie /pf/ the 1 } sunv; nominated'. ;' If' the- library - were prb-' yided it would he-with. pride- that ha would ppint; .to .it when- the; Minister yisited , Hokitika.;again. It was the School’s duty to provide the pupiis with/the' desiyed hohks/ y /'' 1 / Thq .chairman.*- of ’ the Committee \Mr A. C. Armstrong),;\sftid Hhat the

meet the 'School’s expanses, and in the-;' past, they had i;ecc'ivg(V grants from i the Board. The Committee had,, with the library. . The Board, had purchased twelve .tjTHiiyntbVs jfljr ilie com-Vi jipOrcial depwtnWut;i brtt"t6id'ay?it'eouid*" not spend a penny on repairs.

j; Mr Armstrong ' also asked 'that.a j 'demolition of the school and its be expedited, He' teferrbdcondition a here whereby the Rector Tiad to taxe a full time teaching-gob each day, considerably hampering the effectiveness of-supervision.'MHfr urged thatthe Minister • consider’ means of rectifying the position. - V LA

Mr Bitchener said he,.had had some experience in high .school management, and was conversant with the condition® tb be contended -with.' Ho was net aware of'' the Act' taking, away the . .rights previously conferred on 1 ' the'" Board, and he was surprised- He did not know that lie Mould- do' anything. Air Murdoch : V/Oh'/yes.-. The Aot» says “such sum 'an ’’the Aiinister thinks fit.-*- ' ."m

The Minister: I am. only acting-Alin-y ister, and -I don’t- think-1 can; supersede the authority of the Minister. He assured them that he would go thoroughly into the. matter. Air O’Brien: You will supply the library if you can? \ : V : Alr Bitchener: I will not commit, myself at -present-., lam sorry,; I cannot give you any assurance, but I will confer with- Air Atmore. Mr Murdoch : And give liim our regards. (Laughter). We .are. ready if he decides to. visit Hokitika.-

Regarding the building, the Minister said the architect’s, report would soon be to hand, and he would se« what he could d°- He agreed that something should be done.' He would also refer the question of the Rector having to take a fulT time class, to che Director of Education; Mr Murdoch asked if they framed r a men machinery clause giving the rights to the Board, and got Messrs O’Brien and Holland to sponsor it, would the acting-Minister- support, it. Mr Bitchener said he. could give no assurance until -lie. looked ..into the matter. ■. . . -->