SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2414, 6 April 1922, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the School Committee was held on Tuesday night. Present: Messrs Hornblow (chairman), Ceo. Coley, A. Stevenson, Wi -Nye, F. D. Whibley, M. Perreau.'-’Jno. Ross, P. Robinson, and the head master, Mr Banks. PICNIC CANCELLATION AND FUND. Matter’s in connection with the abandonmen* •£ the school picnic and cancellation of the train arrangements were discussed, and the action of the sub-committee approved. A statement of the moneys collected and disbursements re cancellation was read as follows: —Collected by Mr (1. C. Coley, £l7 Is ()d; do by Mr P. Robinson, £5 18s Od; do by Mr Perreau, 18s; Retailers’ Association, £10; total, £33 17s Od. Disbursements: Payment to caterer £2 10s Od, advertising, 10s, ; total, £3 9s Od, •leaving a credit balance of £3O 8s Od to credit of fund;'which had been deposited in the P.O. Savings Bank.

The Chairman stated that no applications had been received for a refund op-donations, and that very lit tie , would be required to supplement the fund for next year’s outing. The postponement of the picnic this year had been a keen disappointment to all concerned, but the CommitteV had adopted the wisest course under the circumstances. FJe hoped ( jthey would J>e able to make tip for the disappointment, by giving The children a good time next year.

Mr Perreau said the Retailers’ Association intended lo ask for the return of their donation. The Chairman said if this was so, the refund would be made, but as the.,Association would not be called upon next year if the amount was left tn the credit of the fund, lie stigge.sled that Mr Perreau ask the Association to allow the donation to remain at interest in the fund. The statement \ws adopted, and votes of thanks accorded to the collectors and doixirs. CORRESPONDENCE

was read and dealt with as follows:

From the Education Board, (1) continuing appointment of Mr Banks as head master; (2) that •Board could not supply certain furnishings at the master’s residence; (3) .no tify ing,Miss~MoMurra y-’ s..(as-: sistant teacher) transfer to Orona Downs school, and that no certificated teacher had applied to fill the vacancy, and that on the recommendation of the Inspectors Miss Strand had been appointed to the vacancy, and would take up her duties as from April 3rd; (4) that with further reference to the conveyance of children from the seaside to the sebool, Mr Thomson advised that the Beach bad been canvassed, and that there were only 14 children of school age, and lie juould not undertake the conveyance for amount of Government allowance, and asking if the Committee lias any suggestions to make; (5) in reply re covering stairway giving access to boiler room, that after consideration of a report by the architect, (he Board decided to take no action, as it felt that with ordinary supervision and control hv teachers there should be no danger of accident to children.

Resolved to send :i letter to Miss Mo Murray, appreciative of her services, and wishing her success. With reference to the Board’s decision not to cover stairway, the Chairman said despite precautions it would he impossible to prevent children from sitting or climbing on this wall, and a fall on to the concrete steps below of 6ft. to 9ft., might result in serious accident or fatality. It was a structural defect, and should be covered to avoid the possibility of accident. The architect had expressed the opinion that it should be covered, and pointed out how this could be done. If an accident happened, the Board would be. responsible. Members objected to the Committee undertaking this work, and it was unanimously resolved to again write the Board and stress the necessity for covering the stairway, and repudiating responsibility for accident.

Tt was decided to inform the Board that the Committee had no further suggestions to make re conveying children from the seaside to school. lIEADMASTER’S REPORT. The Headmaster’s report was read as follows: — “I .have the. honour to report for the month ending,3lst March, 1922, as follows: —I took charge of this school its head master on 6th March, 1922, the date on which it was agreed I should begin duties. All the members oi' the staff were present. The. roll number at present is 432 C Seventy-one pupils were admitted during the quarter, and 56 left. The percentage of the roll number present was 95.5, a very fine “record. It is a great help to the staff of the school. Miss McMurray has been transferred to another school, and Miss Strand has been appointed in hpr place. Requirements: Four: clocks need repairing; framing of three pictures; replacing of one pane of glass broken, by cricket ball;; gravel at corner of school building, by tank; a force pump is needed for lifting water from , underground tank to tanks on stands; the number of taps and basins is, quite inadequate, there being only four taps for 432 pupils;"six' towel rails are needed, and two dozen towels, there being none at present'. ' For Arbor Day, fifteen rose trees are needed. I ask permission to order them from the Supervisor of Agriculture. The live hedges around the playground need trimming. I would ask for a supply of bulbs for front garden. Visitors: Early in the month, Mr

Banner, .supervisor in Agriculture, paid the school a visit.” The Headmaster was congratulated upon the success of his efforts, and the excellent attendance, which, if maintained, would entitle school to the services of another assistant. Minor repairs, etc., were left in the hands of the headmaster; Mr Coley to procure a load of cinders; the Board be asked to provide towel rollers, and their attention he called to the necessity for increased taps and basins. Messrs Nye and Perreau were appointed visitors for the month.