NELSON EDUCATION BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 27 January 1909, Page 1

NELSON EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. Tlis following business was transactd at the meeting of the Education Board in addition to that already reported : — APPOINTMENTS. THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL TEACHEP.3HIP. FF.t/H APFI.ICATION3 TO BE C U.I.kD. The question cf the appointment of i headmaster at the Westport High '.ch..0l was conjured. Letter.? conveying minuter; of the Westport School "?ommitiee iriei»lin«£, a resolution passA at a public meeting at Westport, md also a letter from the minority of four on the Committee, were read. The Chairman took exception to the Board having been dragged into the discussion that \had takjen place in regard to the appointment. A Press As-sociation wire from Westport had irgcd the Board not to be weak-kneed ind to appoint Mr Harkness. It did , not matter just then what the Westport psople thought about Mr Wake, ir Mr Hunter or Mr Harkness, or any(>ody else. The Board had to act equitably. Mr Maginnity held that the first meeting of the Committee to consider the appointment had been irregular, the necessary three days' noice not having been given; the second meeting of the Committee h9 believed -.vas legal. But he thought the best thing to do was to start de novo— to -igain send the whole of the applications to the Committee — to wipe the slate. Mr Franklyn favoured a fresh start being made. He pointed out;- that Urider the Amendment Act of 1908' it was necessary for Comtaittees, from Ist fannary, to send only one name to the- - Board. (The Westport Committee icnt to tho Board the names of < Messrs . Ha rU ness and Wake.) The Chairman said that he was con•ideritig whether it would not be necessary under the new regulations to call for fresh applications. Mr Beuke was in favour of tho apoHrattons beinsj again sent to the Comnitie*. 'There was nothing before the 'inard to show that a legal meeting of rhe Committee had been held. Mr Franklyn said that by 'sending two names the Committee had placed tho onus on the Board. By sending back the applications the onus would be ou the Committee. Mr Lock moved and Mr Smith seconded, that in view of the circumstan•es made known to the Board by the Mayor of Westport, and in view of the orovi.-iion of the Amending Act which ■urn a into force on the Ist inst., the Stiard deems it desirable that fresh apolications be called for the position of headmaster of the Westport High School. Mr Shepherd pointed out that the '.Vzrrtport Committee had been instructed to sar.d cn two names — ae had been '.ha cur-tom fer jzztz past. Mr 1 an said that the Committee had r.o inCcr.ticn ci. threvrint. the onus on the Eiird. lha Committee had only fcllc-ed the icsal custom in sending tT/.T name: Tha Committee placed Mr Hiilriic-r ' ii* hi* first— the Committee wanted Mr Ilr.rlrness appointed. Tlie Chairman f.»id there wae no need lo blame thr Commit ice, nor wa? it desirable. . The m.-.lion Bi'. pkit and carried unanimously. Appointments were made as follows : — Assistant teacher, Nelson Boys', Mrs K. E. Kidson ; assistant teacher, Nelson Girls'. (It was anticipated that two teachers would require to be appointed, but only one ]S now allowed.) ft was resolved to write to the Committee in regard to the recommendations made. Assistant teacher, Charleston, Miss H. G. Leigh ton ; sole teacher, Bainham, Miss H. A. Gibbs; assistant, Upper Moutere, Miss C. H. Hill. Resignations were accepted as follows : — Miss S. G. Parkinson, Drummond's; Miss E. Flintoff, pupil teacher, Westport; Miis H. G.. Eden, 88 Valley; Miss A. Barker, Baton : Hiss': A. Jeffries* JAwa-iti; Miss J.jMcCaf-i Erey, Puponga ; Miss G. Win, Wood-. stock; ••Miss''. I. Barnes, Uruwhenua.