EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT APPEAL MEETING.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 47, 17 September 1864, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT APPEAL MEETING.

The' meeting to Hear Appeals against the Edu-'cation^Asse'ssmentj-which from the 19thinsfcy was held yesterday in the Hall of , the Mechanics^ Institute,, at - twelve o.'clock. Th© following members of committee were in attendance, viz. :-f;Eeyj3. Messrs; rStobo.tatidyflPanner ' Messrs. Butts, •: Blacklocky and ■ G-eisbwV* Mr. Blacklock presided. 'f. ™' • -■ ■ ' -*^'~ " ;■;; '.Mr. Bla'cklocs: wished rtb^make^-an explanation before,: commencing business, -which he thought mignt tend to shorjen their proceedinga. The Committeo,'had assessed the town- with a view of putting up additional schooltiibuildings, out as they-did .not now intend, t» pubjthem up, they found that ?tho amount.cquld bejreduced 25 per cent. They would, however,; jbe^bbligcd to realise the amount of £650; for, theyt;were"'£22o in 'debt. There was £300 for, salaries>,t6i-b,e provided, and also other incidental expenses. If the partica preaent'wefo" "Willing to acccdd to this reduction of 25 por ■ cont.-^(eries/of " no, no") — there ; would' be no necessity for going into the appeals except as' to'those'wh'o believed that their assessments wore relatively; excessive! -v\ - The ; Eev. Mr. Stobo considered that the'committee had, from the i first, adopted a false principle. ."■ iv ■'< Mi*. Habe desired to know to what purpose tho money would be appropriated when it was collected.^ ■-'■'■ !: ' : '' •' •' -" 1 1 ' ; - r;i --"" ■'■' -m'— . Mr. Blacklock.— ; Wo will, .pay our liabilities with it. •' ' ' ■■•■'■ ■";■•■■■' '*;,' _ ; ; .. •■■'■'.''•' '^ , 1 Mr; Ohapmak now asked 'what the amount of tho bank overdraft was ? ..••>.-,. Mr. Blacklock. I—-About1 — -About £200. Sir. KiNasLANp.— l should like' to see a financial statement prepared by the : committee; ; ; ' " The Key. Mr. Tannbb explained that the assessment had been rpostponed- until the end of tho year, but in the meantime L their liabilities 'had accumulated until they had reached the: extent of £220. „,. . :. .'-. . ■■■ ...■;■;■:■:■;! i.- ■■■.--:.. Mr. EJfNGSlAirDvaow asked if the committee did not feel bound to show how the money which had been collected already. had been" spent). ■ •:'. ' ' The , Eev. Mr. Stobo informed / him that the Ordinance did not contain any mention of such a thing, but he had no doubt the committee would be happy to furnish the^ information. •' •' ■■:■< Mr. BLACKXOCK.-^Weare not called upon to do so. Mr. Chapmak.— - Do you not think, as honest men, that you ought to state how the money collected for the past year has been expended ?. Mr. Kikgsland thought the public were entitled to have sucha statement laid befoi'e them. Mr. Blacklock.—- All I have gotto. say is tins — they are £220 in debt. ; ; l Mr. Chapman. — All I hare got to say is this — If you, as a commercial man, were to have such a statement made to you by any of your clerks, you would not consider it very satisfactory. ... Tho Eev. Mr.. Tannbe remarked ''that- tho Teachers' salary was at the rate "of £300 per annum. £80, or thereabouts,' had Tieen received from school fees, and the committee were mii debted to the banks in the sum of £220; Twelve ; children were now educated free^ and he : regretted to state that Bince the. assessment was raised the number of- scholars had been much augmented. Thp committeee should famish all the information required through the papers. Mr. JCtNGSLANix asked 3 whether the former committee handed a financial statement to the present one. The Eev. Mr. Stobo said. that a large portion of last year's assessment had notibeen collected. Some had not paid anything. ' : Mr. KiNasLAND said he had not been asked to P a yThe Eov. Mr. Stobo.— The collector was io blame for that. Mr. Chapman' and Mr.DALEYMPLE here made some unimportant remarks. Mr. Peaeso^ said that in framing an assesgr ment, the Committee should not be guided by their wants, but by the Act which provided that the annual value of the property should be the basis of their calculations. The Eev. Mr. Stobo called on those present to assist the committee in carrying out the object of the Ordinance. He thought the Ordinance was almost impracticable. The former rate could not be enforced because of some informality. The Committee were advised not to take it into Court. The members of Committee here commenced talking altogether, and reporting was impossible. After some time, Dr. Wilson moved that the assessment be reduced 50 per cent Mr. PbabsOj? seconded the motion. The committee retired to consider, and on their return, announced .that the motion was agreed to, except in the case of unoccupied sections, which were to be assessed at the upset price. Great satisfaction was manifested by those present. A few appeals were then taken into consideration, and the meeting broke up.