School Committee

Levin Daily Chronicle, 3 May 1917, Page 3

School Committee

; OHAU MEETING.

The largest meeting on record for tho election of a school committee was held at Oliau on Monday night. The chairman of the retiring committee Mr G. Glackin was in the chair. The ""chairman read) the report of tho year's work. During the year a coal shed had been built, the play sheds were floored with concrete, concrete paths were laid round tho school hoai.se and a sewing machine had been procuredl for the school. A very successful bazaar had been held by the school for the Red Cross, where £52 lfis 5d had been' raised and the children had had-a fancy dress ball. The school had lost tho services of Miss HurreK through bad health, and were noiw to lose those of Miss' Thomson who was re. tiring for reasons connected with her family.

, Tho headmaster (Mr Henderson) expressed himself as well satisfied with the retiring committee, and especially, with the chairman, who had .been of great assistance in the running of theschool and) who had made a first-class chairman at a meeting. He regretted the loss of the two assistants and mentioned the assistance Miss Thomson had rendered in musical, matters.

. The question of increased accommodation in the school which arose out:of the report was then discussed. Mr Henderon said that, for some years the teaching of three classes in two rooms had been a great ineoirvenienoe, but recently the attendano had considerably increased and it had) become necessary that something should be done to relieve congestion. The committee had approached the secretary, of the board on the njatter but the latter had stated he thought that as tho minimum space allowed each child by the department during war time (ten square feet) bad not been reached the board could not do anything unless there were special reasons in organization which made increased accommodation necessary. As, however, there were about 36 children of school age ready to come to school lie (the speaker) thought another room was necessary especially as he noticed the evil effect on tho children of having two teachers teaching in the same room. At present a class ol infants spent most of its time in the passage which was not a good place for young children, being neither ventilated nor lighted properly.

Mr *J. .MeLeavey said that lie had heard that the people of th© Kuku were going to build a school down ,at their end of the district. Personally, he thought that as it was war time 110 fresh demands should be made upon the Government-.

Mr Harkness said that the health and welfare of the children should surely be the first consideration. Thoy were a national asset and must bo most carefully proteced. There were other directions in which 'retrenchment could be carried out; it was clearly the falsest economy to starve education.

The motion "that this meeting of householders - and parents urge the the board the necessity of enlarging tlio school" was carried unanimously.

The meeting then proceeded to elect a new school coramitteo when the foillowing were chosen: Messrs Glackin (chairman), Walton (secretary) Hanson, Davis and Harkness.

KOIPUTAROA HOUSEHOLDERS. At the meeting of Koputaroa householders last Monday, a large number was present to receive the school committee's annual report and balancesheet. It showed a credit balance of .£.*l9 os 4d: receipts £56 4s 2d, expenditure £36 8s lOd. Messrs Broadbelt, Gardner, Wihite, Annabell, Horne, Gilchrist, Hearle and Downes were nominated as committemen. On a ballot being taken, Messrs Broadbelt, Annabell, Gardner, White and Home were elected. Messrs Forsyth and Gardner "acted as scrutineers. At the meeting of the new committee, Mr. Broadbelt was elected chairman.