WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 129, 1 May 1940, Page 8

WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

HOUSEHOLDERS’ MEETINGS. SCHOOL COMMITTEES ELECTED. Householders in the M oodyille area of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board’s district met on Monday evening for the biennial election of school committees. Meetings were held at five schools and elections were necessary in three instances —Woodville, Woodlands Road and Maharaliara West. Lack of interest was apparent in most districts. Only four householders attended the Papatawa meeting and as this number was insufficient to form a committee, it w-as decided to postpone the meeting. No meeting was held at Hopelands because of the absence from the district of the chairman (Mr A. E .East) and householders will be called together later. DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL. The meeting held in the Woodville District High School w-as attended by only 14 householders. Mr S. Turnbull was voted to the chair. In his report covering the past two years’ activities, the chairman of the committee (Mr R. R. Johnston), stated that the primary roll in tho past year had numbered close on 280 —the best for many years. The secondary roll since 1985 had fallen short of tho number required to enable an assistant teacher to be retained. At the commencement of the present term sufficient pupils had been secured for the appointment of an assistant. The chairman expressed the hope that as facilities in the secondary ' department were equal to those or mucii larger, schools, parents would give the teachers every assistance by sending their children to the school. The roll in 1981 numbered 55 as against 3G at present, and he saw no reason why they should not have a similar number today. Due to many staff changes, especially during the past year, the headmaster (Mr J. S. Mcßean) had had a difficult task, hut the work had revealed excellent results. The support given by the public to efforts to raise iUnds had always been liberal and most helpful. In the period under review £lO5 had been raised and spent 911 the purchase of a picture plant, librarybooks and sports requisites. The balance-sheet lor the year ended February 29, 1940, showed a credit of £27 14s ’7d in the general account and £lB 2s 8d in the special account. Receipts totalled £259 9s 9d (general) and £145 (special), and payments £232 5s 2d and £126 17s 4d respectively. Moving the adoption of the report, Mr Turnbull congratulated the chairman on having presented such a lucid statement. Tlie satisfactory state ol affairs revealed by- tho balance-sheet reflected great credit on the outgoing committee. Mr E. J. Harding, in seconding the motion, which was carried, mentioned the whole-hearted support received from the public, from whom the suiu of £145 had been received in response to appeals made during the past year. Captain L. H. Jones commented favourably on the action of the committee in having a canvass of parents carried out by the lieadmastei arid Mr Harding aimed at- increasing the High School roll. He emphasised: the need for impressing upon parents | that the facilities at the Woodville ; School were sufficient for tho require- 1 mentis of their children. . j The nominations having been received for the nine seats 011 the new- committee, ail election was necessary. Those'elected were :—-Messrs T. Smith, H. J. McFeak, R. It. Johnston, L. J.. Whittington, R. Peebles, J. J. Young, E. J. Harding, A. M. Pickering and Rev. B. P. Williams. Returning thanks for his re-election, Mr Johnston welcomed the new- member on the committee (Mr loung). Mr L. Williams, a former member, w-as thanked for his past services. The headmaster (Mr J. S. Mcßean) gave a review of school activities, 111 the course of which he expressed appreciation of assistance received iroin the committee and paid a tribute to the; work of Mr Johnston in particular. On the suggestion of Mr Anslow, it was decided ‘that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to consider ways and means of heating the staff .room. Votes of thanks were accorded the retiring chairman, Mr and Mrs Mcßean, the staff,, and the caretaker. Captain Jones asked if it were customary for pupils-at the school to assemble once each w-eek for the purpose of saluting the flag and singing the National Anthem. Mr McBean said the practice of saluting the flag had not been carried out for some years. The matter was referred to the incoming committee and the staff for consideration. At a subsequent meeting of the newly-elected committee, Mr Johnston w-as re-elected chairman. Mr Pickering announced that, on account of pressure of other duties, he could not accept reappointment to the secretaryship. Mr L. J. Whittington was elected to the position. A vote of thanks to the retiring secretary, who had comI pleted nine years’ service in the position, w-as carried, several members i paying tribute to his splendid work and keen interest in all matters appertaining to the school. Mr Pickering briefly responded. Messrs Johnston, Whittington and Rev, Mr Williams were re-elected a ground committee. WOODLANDS ROAD. There was an attendance of 15 at the meeting of householders held in the Woodlands Road School and presided over by Mr J. C. Bolton, The chairman of the retiring committee (Mr W. Bowman) stated in Ills report that the school roll stood at 25—the highest for some years—and this was considered very gratifying. The balance-sheet showed a loss of a little over £1 on the past year’s working, but the financial position was considered satisfactory in view of the capitation levy having been reduced to £23. Seven persons w-ere nominated for the committee and the voting resulted in the following being returned: Messrs J. C. Bolton, G. Veale, T. O’Brien,. J. Worboys and K. Strand. The unsuccessful nominees (Messrs C. Angove and S. Worboys) were thanked for offering themselves for election. Mr Bowman, -who with Mr A. Bonny had declined nomination, was accorded thanks' for liis services to the school as a committeeman over the past ten y-ears, during the last four of which he had been chairman. On the motion ofjMr Bowman, it w-as decided to place on record appreciation of Mr Bonny’s work for the school, he having served on the committee continuously for the past 19 years—a record term of office in the history of the school. Reference was made to the departure from the district of Mr A. Young and a vote of thanks was passed, to him for liis services on the retiring committee and also to Mr Gardner (head teacher) who, it was stated, had obtained excellent results from the pupils during the past three years and had greatly assisted, the school in other ways. The ladies of the district w-ere thanked for their efforts at various school functions. Mr Bolton was elected chairman at a subsequent meeting of the committee, and Mr J. Worboys was reappointed secretary. Messrs Bolton and Worboys were elected trustees.