SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4968, 30 April 1926, Page 1

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

ELECTIONS ON THE PLAINS. NGATEA. / Sixteen householders attended the Ngatea. District High School meeting over which Mr W. McDuff presided. No , written report was submitted by the retiring committee owing to the recent departure of ,the- secretary, the Rev. E. H. Brooker.

The acting-ie'eietary (Mr J. EReid) reported that the credit-bal-ance. was £lB 3s sd, compared with £39 9s 6d at the end of .the previous year. The expenditure during the yea,r t 'tailed £40 ! 7 3s sd. Reporting committees work during the year the chairman mentioned that, the dental clinic had been completed and a dental, officer appointed. He had treated all the Ngatea, and also the Kaihere pupils, .and wap now working at Patfkonga. Many parents felt that the woik did not go far enough when only children up to eight years were treated. This was in accordance with regulations but it is worthy of note that childrejn once treated continued to receive attention while at school. Mr McDuff referred to the bus services had been inaugurated during the year to bring pupiljs from Hopai, Kerepeehi, and ■ Horahia-. Whether the latter service would continue was not definite as the number was not up to the minimum of 30 required. In reply to a householder the chairman said that there was, not sufficient accommodation at the school. The case had. been presented to the >board, which had classed the demand as urgent, and -referred it to thei department months ago. So far nothing had been done. Some small relief ha,d been obtained by shifting the high school pupils to the old sheltershed class-room.. This was unfair to them and to the district which had provided the high school classroom. . Householders commented on the fact that the department’s building programme always lagged behind requiremente. Strange exception was taken to the shifting of the. high school pupils into, the shelter-shed. The. headmaster said that there was regulation air-space in the sheltershed for 25' pupils, whereas the ciasses housed there, had increased to 53. Under these circumstances' and acting on the recommendation of the the Advisory Inspector, he had made the transfer under protest. The head master reported that .the roll number in the primary department was 154, the average attendance and during the previous quarter 135. during the present quarter being 144, and during the previous quarter 135. There was', sitting room in the school for 120 pupils. An average attendance for one quarter of 135 entitled the school to an additional teach'ei.. The chairman said that applica-* tion had been made; some mouths ago for an additional teacher' but s,o fa : r no. appointment had been. made. 1 The secretary was instructed to write to the board, concerning the increased ccommodation and additional tea,che.r required. Complaints were voiced at the er- ‘ ratio time-.ta.ble followed by the Waitakaruru' bus, and it, was decided that the secretary advise the contractor that unless .an improvement was effected the matter would be taken up with the Edu.ca.tion (Board. The retiring committee was accorded a vote of thapks, and with four additions to replace member's who had left the district, and to bring the number from' five to seven, the following were elected: Messrs W. McDuff, W. J. Clare, R. Burke, C. S. Foster, E. Barrible, G. T., Davidson, and' W. Lawrence. The. meeting clpesd'with a vote, of thanks to the' headmaster and staff. At the committee meeting that followed Mr W. McDuff wars re-elected Ch airma,ll and Mr C. S. Foster was .appointed secretairy. The chairman and secretary were deputed to have certain repairs to ths outbuildings out .and to procure grass, seed for planting in the playground.

NETHERTON. There was a large attendance of householders a,t Netherton, Mr C. H. Potter presiding. For the seven 1 seatq on the committee twelve 'nominations were received. The election resulted in Messrs P. Harold, C. Stembridge, T. Vowlcs, G. Front, W. Hjarold, J. Morrison (senr.), and R. Adam being elected. At the comnuittee meeting which followed Messrs I-’. Harold and C. Stembridgo were elccitcd chairjnan and secretary respectively.

WAITAKARURIU. TJhere was a. repefsenkativc gathering at the Waitakaruiru meeting, over which Mr C, W. Harris presided. The committee 'appointed comprised Messrs ,C: W. Harris (chairman), A. Wyllic (secretary), R. T. Williams, F. E. Levers, and H. Jowsey. The roll number was 57 and the average attendance 53. The school fund account showed' a credit of £2oDuring the year paths had received a dressing of tar and sand. The shelter trees were l growing well. Particular efforts had Ibeen made to 1 keep the buildings in good order and' the wafer supply satisfactory. Electric lights ,and an electa’ic heater had been installed, and an <slectric urn was on order, ft being t:he committee’s intention to inaugurate a free hot cocoa service during I;he winter months. The report dwel/t on the harmonious relationship betaveent he coinnr.ittee and the teaching staff, and the sutisfactoyy work p E the teachers.