WATER SUPPLY FOR SCHOOLS.

Shannon News, 18 November 1927, Page 2

WATER SUPPLY FOR SCHOOLS.

COMMITTEES MUST PAY, SAYS BOABD. POLICY OF PARSIMONY OBJECTED '• '. '.'. ■ TOv ■' > ". ■•. The meagre allowance, made 'to school committees was emphasised at Monday night's'meeting of the Levin district High School when advice was received or the latest turn made in the financial screw by the Wellington Education Board by its intimation that in future school committees must pay their'own Water supply- account, and demanding a refund of the amount paid by the Board for the current year. The committee's capitation rs £22 4s 7d per' month, it having been, reduced by £1 monthly 5 this year by reason of irregular attendance. After paying the caretaker, a sum of £llO per annum is left to provide firing, books and stationery,' cleaning materials, and keep the buildings and fences in repair. Firing alone for the twenty fireplaces in the school cost £4B during the past winter, so that it will be seen that there is nothing to spend'except for bare 'necessities. - ' ■ i The Board's letter read at Monday's meeting-.was as follows: ' ; "I am directed to inform'you,'tliat the Board at its last meeting resolved that wherever any charge is made fOr water the School Committees concerned must, as from Ist March last, pay the same from, their grant for incidental expenses. Where, however, water is used as a result off letting the school, or grounds, portion'of the cost may, be Charged against the revenue received from letting the school premises. Where "manual training classes are held at "a school Where a charge for water is made, the Board will refund a pvoporfiou of the cost based on the average, number of pupils attending the school and the special classes respectively, and the committee should notify qie Board in February of each year" of the total amount paid for water during the preceding twelve months. ..■'■',■ "The local authorities, are being requested for the future to send their accounts direct to the School Committee; but ii) those cases where the Board has paid; accounts since Ist March, the amounts will be deducted in instalments from the grants payable between now and the end of the Committee's financial vear.

"The Board very much regrets having to take Lhe aetion referred to herein, but owing to the state of the Incidental Expenses Account it has no op tion in the matter... For the information of School Committees it may be pointed out that under "paragraph (3) of the Government regulations it. is provided lhat the incidental expenses .of School Committees within the moan . ing of section 3G of the Education Act, IJ-f] 4, shall include all expenditure on water service and sanitary service when necessary. The amount' paid by the Board on account of your Committee is £5 8s 4d, and it is proposed to make the deductions as .noted below.

The deductions proposed were £1 7s Id per month .from the capitation for November, December, January'and Februaiv. ' ~ '

Mr, Roe said the Board had paid'for the water supply without question for a number of years, and he did not feel inclined to let the decision past;. If they did not feel inclined to pay for the water let'them cut it off and see what the parents and Health Department would say. Giants could be made for other purposes, without trouble, but Levin seemed to be in an unluckygpart of the country. He did not set how the Borough Council could be expected to give them free water. The chairman (Rev. J. D. McArthur) on-referring to the regulations, said it was clear that the committee was expected to provide good drinking water and water for sanitary'-purposes out of its allowance.

Mr Falloon: How long "have the regulations been in force.

The Chairman: Since 1914. Mr Falloon: And not enforced till now.

Mr ITutchings moved 1-hat an emphatic protest be entered against having to pay the water rate as the capitation now paid from month to month is nol sufficient to meet the current expenses The motion was seconded by Mr Roe and carried, and it was decided to enquire as to the policy in the Wanganui di3trict and to Avrite to the Educational Institute and School Committees' Association on the jmbject

The Treasurer said 'the general account was overdrawn, at present to the extent of £l6 and ofter paying the caretaker the committee would have about £l2 to cover all incidental expenses ,d,uring the next four memths if it wished to balance the account. '