MANAWATU SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2143, 24 June 1920, Page 1

MANAWATU SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION'

The annual meeting of the Manawalu School Committees’ Association was held at Palmerston North on Holiday night. Hr.), it. Nash. H.P. (president), was in the chair, and the other members present were Hessrs W. (5. S. Romlcy and T. Burton (Ashluirst), C. ■). Gill and 11. C. Be Grange (College Street), it. .). Mahon and P. T. Robinson (Campbell Street), .). K. Hornblow, J. Claris and Jno. Ross (Foxton), Field (Fitzherbert East), R. W. Guy and R. Stewart, (Tokomaru), A. E. Pearce and J. W. Batchelor (Waituna West).

The annual report of the Association staled that the past year had been a very successful one. The Association was pleased to he able to slate that a great many of the reforms and improvements advocated had been given effect to, and it was confidently expected that during the coming year further improvements would be effected. Reference was ma.de to the conference of school committees’ associations hold at Wellington, at which Dir J. A. Nash p,resided. The executive desired to bring before (ho meeting the necessity tor all committees who have grievances, or are being neglected by the Education Hoards, to place 1 (lie whole of the correspondence and farts before the Association as speedily as possible. Baring the year seven additional school committee's had joined the Association, making a total of .’hi committees who have joined to dale, representing approximately 5,001) pjpils. The balancesheet showed a credit balance of f’i 7s Rl.

ill liiavillg lllC :I<lif I> I i .. n 111’ l:H' report lini! id !; 111 (* ( 1 - 1 1 ( W ‘1 , I 111' ]ll'C:'.l----(><111 mlid I !l;l! the 11 1 !V(‘ fell. I lint they diil inl l gel enough In dii. for ;i !l hough -.chool mmnml' ;*(■•' had liicir I roiihlcs the As; i.iiiil in)! heard nothing from many id' I hem. lie referred Id the conditions Hint had been in existence «t some ol‘ (lie schools, and snid that the Assoeij!linn 1 1:1 d heeii able In oblain relief i'n]' one id' Ihr schools it-, they hud object ml in I ho people id’ the Inc; dily having Id lind C for 0 subsidy for ;i much-needed improvement. lie emphasised the .fact (hat (lie Association would bo pleased to help local people, and pointed out, that the epilation by the Association laid, resulted in many improvements being made. He insliineed vital Imd been done to obtain a new school for Campbell Street, and also the securing' of a new infants’ school for College Street. He said that the Government in many cases was at fault in not semiring land for playing areas while if was cheap. He spoke of what had been done in Palmerston North in the way id.' securing playing areas for the schools, and congratulated the College Si reel Coiiimiiloe on obtaining Its new site. He mentioned the proposal to federate the school commit lees of the Dominion, which he considered would be a great lever for primary schools education .in New Zealand. The increased grant made for education bad been an advance, although it was not ye I as much as il should be. .Mr Horublcw, who seconded Ihe motion for 1.1 so adoption of (he. report and balance-sheet, referred to the desirability of doing away with r-dncalion boards, and broadening (he duties of school eiuiiiiiillces. On the motion id' the chairman, the following motion was agreed to: “That this Association place on record its keen appreciation of I lie services rendered in the- mi use of (ducation by the Him. Sir Francis Dillon Hell while holding the portfolio of Minister for Fdumilion.” The following resolution was al.-o .agreed to; —"That this A.-sociaihm views with pleasure the active steps tinw being taken by the Hon. C. Parr in Ihe erection of now schools and acquiring additional lands for primary schools throughout the Dominion.’’

Officers for the ensuing' yeur were elected as follows :—President. Air J. A. Nash, M.P. (re-elected); vicepresidents, Messrs J. K. Hornblow and A. J. Mahon, and Airs De Latour; secretary and treasurer, Air H. C'. Le Grange; eonimiliee, Messrs Guy, Pearce, Gill, Field, and Lancaster; auditor, Mr \V. Hunter; delegates to Seho«l Committees’ Conference, Messrs Nash, Le Grange and Hornhlow. The chairman recommended sending to the conference of school committees a remit in favour of the annual grant, for education being made £’3,00(),0l)0, spying that it was now about two and a-quarter millions. This suggestion was adopted.

On Mr Le Grange's motion, it was decided to forward a remit in favour of the standardisation of school hooks. Air Hornblow moved a remit in favour of the maximum number of scholars in a class being 40 pupils

under the charge of one teacher, and this was agreed to. The chairman advocated higher remuneration being paid for teachers, and on his motion a remit was agreed lo in favour of the remunera--1 ion paid to teachers being such as to attract the most skilled persons tc enter the profession. Other, remits agreed to were in favour of free dental and medical treatment for school children, affirming the principle of assembly halls in schools, and in favour of nominations for committees closing seven days before the dale of the election.

A vote of thanks was accorded Messrs L. R. Bryant and P. C.

Freeth, members of the Board of Education, for their services in the cause of education, and to Mr J. A.

Nash tor presiding and for the use of bis room in the Council Chambers for the meeting of the Association. —Standard.