The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi.” TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1902. SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 47, 29 April 1902, Page 3

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi.” TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1902. SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

MOTUEKA. The annual meeting of householders, convened by the Nelson Education Board, was held last evening, when there was a good attendance of the public. Mr W. J. MofFatt was voted to the chair and after explaining the object proceeded to read the annual report and balance sheet, the latter having been duly, certified to by Mr Gilbert, auditor. The balance on the 31st March was 16s 9d. On the motion of Mr W. Boyce, seconded by Mr Wratt, the "eport and balance sheet were adopted. The Chairman stated that in view of the fact that the Committee’s allowance had been curtailed it would be impossible for them to carry on with the present allowance. Mr Jordan agreed with the remarks of the Chairman. The position of the Committee was a most difficult one on account of the decreas eel allowance. He thought the meeting should enter a protest against such reduction. Mr Wratt was of opinion they should enter a protest by not electing a Committee. Mr Brougham thought the committee should be eiected and if the grant was not increased they could resign. A lengthy discussion took place upon the compulsory clauses of the School Attendance Act, which were read bv the chairman. Mr Jordan thought that after passing such an Act the Government should appoint truant inspectors to enforce the clauses. The position was a most unenviable one for the members of committee. Votes of thanks were passed to the auditor and also to the old committee. On behalf of the. committee Mr Moffatt said they were pleased to have been the means of raising the status of the school; it was always pleasurable to do business when actual, tangible benefits followed. Besides bringing into exist-

e nee the District High School, which would be of great benefit to the place, they had renovated the school buildings and effected other improvements. The advisability of applying for a portion of the grant set aside by the Government for the establishment of a'f Technical school in Motueka was suggested by the speaker, who said they had done very well in the past, but there was no harm in asking for more educational advantages and he trusted the new committee would make application to the Government; if not granted, no harm would be done. The headmaster was particularly desirous of establishing such a school in our midst, which would not only benefit them but those residing in the outlying districts. He was pleased to acknowledge the vote of thanks which he believed was sincere. The Bev T. Johnston referred to the small stipends paid to the Head Master and Mr Wilkes which were lower than those paid in other parts of the colony mentioned by him. Mr Johnston suggested bringing the matter under the notice of the Education Board. It was pointed out by the chairman and Mr Harris that the salaries were determined by the attendance ; if the number of scholars increased the salaries went up in proportion. The chairman said it had been mentioned outside that the School Committee had treated the members of the Board inhospitably during their visit in connection with the opening of the new school buildings. Mr MofFatt detailed what had been done by the members and said he had received no definite information as to their intentions until a few hours before the ceremony was to take place. Both he and Mr Wratt had opologised to the members of the Board and he thought it only right to the committee, the Board and the public to make the explanation. Mr Hursthouse said he was pleased the explanation had been made ; it showed the fault was entirely with the Board. Speakiug on the attendance question, Mr Hursthouse said it was a false position in which to place the committee in reference to the enforcement of the compulsory clauses. If the industries of the district grew as they had every reason to expect, the schools should be closed for the first three months of the year. With reference to the diminished allowance, he favored Mr Wratt’s suggestion that the committee should pay their way as far as they could and then send along the bills to the Board. Mr Harris, speaking of the irregular attendance of scholars, said (the school attendance Act was the law of the land and the committees are bound to carry it out. His experience here was that parents kept their children at home for tr ivial reasons ; if they saw the committee intended to enforce the compulsory clauses, the children would be sent to school. • The chairman intimated that for business reasons he did not intend to offer his services on this occasion, but would be pleased to act on the committee on a future occasion. He called for nominations of candidates. Messrs J. S. Wratt, Knapp, Bartlett McFarlane, W. Bvder, R. Rankin, and Quayle being the only candidates nominated they were declared elected. The public meeting was brought to a close by a vote of thanks to the, chairman, after which the committee met and elected Mr Rankin chairman and secretary.

RIWAKA. A meeting of householders at Riwaka last night was largely attended. Mr H. Everett was in the chair. Some discussion took place on the amended attendance Act, and as it effects this district, he contended that it was a hardship to compel parents to send their children during fruit picking season ; he said that

teachers were desirous of compelling children to attend school to keep up their salaries and to show good results—all for their own benefit, and that if such a blow were struck at what had become the living of the people, then the people would no? be in a position to pay teachers any salary at all. J ■ Mr Andrews said he thought the chairman was not quite fair in his remarks auent the teachers. He would remind that gentleman that the Act was not framed by teachers, neither was it framed out of special consideration for Riwaka, but by the Legislature in the best interests of the Colony as a whole. He also added that teachers salaries were paid by the Government out of the general revenue of the Colony, and that the revenue was not likely to be much affected by the conditions of the Riwaka raspberry crop. Speaking as a teacher, he recognised and he thought all the teachers in the district recognised the importance of the industry, but teachers also had the same right of looking after their living, and what was more of their reputation. If, he concluded the schools were closed for three months, to cover fruit and hop picking, and the Act rigially enforced for the other nine months, no holidays being granted during that period except such odd days as the King’s Birthday, he was sure that it would be to the advantage of children, parents and teachers. Mr Drummond said the Education Act did not provide for any holidays at all, and that a former Committee had received notice from the Education Board, that on no account were the holidays to exceed eight weeks in the year. He thought a great many children were kept away for very trivial reasons at other than the fruit picking season. He did not think the Board had power by the Act to grant holidays. Mr T. Pattie endorsed what Mr Andrews had said. He certainly thought the Education Board had discretionary powers to permit the closing of the school for any period under such circumstance. The fruit industry had come to stay, and would soon be of more importance than hop growing. He suggested that the Committees of the district should approach the Education Board for permission to close the schools for a longer period than eight weeks if necessary, during the fruit and hop seasons. Nominations were then-received for a school committee for the ensuing year, and the following are the names, and the number of votes received by each. Messrs C. Fry, and D. Bate acted as scrutineers : Messrs J. Rowling 43, E. James 36, J. D. Fowler 36, C. Lowe 32, A. Inglis 31, A. Drummond 30, P. Fry 28, E. McLean 21, W. Whitehorn 18, J. W. Duncan 18, R. Woolf 16. The Chairman declared the first seven elected. Votes of thanks to the retiring Committee, and Ito the Chairman of the meeting closed the proceedings. At a subsequent jjmeeting of the newly elected Committee Mr A. Drummond was re-elected Chairman and Secretary. —o — LOWER MOUTERE. The annual meeting of householders was held last night, Mr Tarrant in the chair. The following were elected committeemen Messrs Tarrant, H. Holdaway,* C. Teece, C. Flett, F. Herrick, R. Marshall and W. Edwrrds, the last four being new members. At a subsequent meeting, Mr Tarrant was re-elected chairman and Mr Flett secretary and treasurer.

NGATIMOTI, The following were elected members of the Committee . —Messrs. J. Wills (chairman), T. Goodman (secretary), F Thomas, G. Marshall, J. Wendleborn.