TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 10, 10 August 1916, Page 7

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

FIRST MEETING OF NEW BODY. The* initial meeting of the new board was held at the Board’s of!ices, New Plymouth, yesterday morning. The following members were present: Messrs R. Masters, S. (I. Smith. R. Dixon, C. A. Wilkinson, H. Trimble, and Rev. A. B. Chappell. Messrs Morton and Ballantyue, the Board’s inspectors, were also in attendance. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Mr P. S. Whitcombe, secretary, as returning officer, read the result of the election of members, and called for nominations for chairman. Mr Wilkinson proposed Mr R. Masters. Seconded by Mr Dixon, and carried.

Mi- Masters returned thanks for his election. He recognised that the position was going to he a difficult one, as much work was to lie done, especially the adjustments between the new Board and the Auckland and Wanganui Boards; the re-organisation of the technical and manual class'es would also occupy much time. A WELCOME. Rev. A. B. Chappell, speaking ns an earlier acquaintance of Mr A. Morton, the new senior inspector, welcomed that gentlepian to the district. The chairman also added his felicitations to Mr Morton, who, he had been assured, when in Wellington recently, would he a distinct acquisition to the district. Mr Morton, in a brief reply, thanked 'the members for their cordial welcome. INSPECTORS’ DUTIES. Mr Dixon said that the Department was expecting an impossibility if the work was to he properly carried on by only two inspectors, now that the. district had been enlarged; indeed, he was surprised that two inspectors had carried on the work in tin- old district. Rev. A. B. Chappell concurred, and said that pressure, should he put on the Department to provide assistance for the inspectors. . DATE OF MEETING.

On the motion of Messrs Dixon and Wilkinson it was agreed that the ordinary monthly meetings of. the Board he held oil the fourth Wednesday in every month at 11 a.in. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES? it was resolved that the Teachers' and Finance Committees consist of the, whole Board. A sub-committee, ‘‘consisting of the chairman,, lyev.. A. 11, and Mr Dixon, was appointed to revise the Board’s- regulations, and submit report at next meeting. " The'chilil’taan, Bey; A. B. Chappell, and Mr Smith were ! appointed the Board’s representatives to confer with tlie inspector and representatives of the North and South Taranaki Teachers’ Institutes on the whole question |)f schoolbooks. ■ TRUANT INSPECTOR. ,Mr. Dixon moved that applications be, called for the position of truant inspector, and that the chairman, Messrs. Wilkinson and Smith he a subcommittee to draw up a schedule of duties and terms of appointment. — Seconded by Rev. A. B. Chappell and carried. TECHNICAL INSTRUCTORS. The chairman and secretary were empowered to arrange for railway concession tickets for technical instructors. Some discussion ensued over the duties of several of the technical teachers, in tiie late Wanganui district who would now be under the jurisdiction of the Taranaki Board. Rev. A. B. Chappell suggested that a special meeting be called, so as to give members an opportunity to confer with the teachers. Mr Dixon opposed this, and contended that the matter should bo discussed by the Board and inspectors, without reference to the teachers, as the question was one of urgency.

It was finally resolved, Mr Iriinlile dissenting, that the Board meet at a later hour And discuss, preliminarily, the Board’s technical teaching appointments. The Board then adjourned for an hour. On resuming after the luncheon adjournment, the chairman said that he had received the following telegiam from the Hon. J. A. Hamm. Minister of Education, as follows:— “I desire to congratulate the members of the new hoard on their appointment thereto. The change marks a new stage in educational administration. I foci confident that the deliberations and activities of your Board will make for educational progress, and that I. will have your hearty co-opera turn in my endeavours to increase efl.ciMicv of our education system ” The chairman moved. “That this Board place on record its hearty appreciation of the services rendered to the cause of education by Mr Harold Trimble during bis occupancy of the position of chairman of the Taranata Education Board; also, of the services rendered by Messrs Adlan., Morton, Marfell. Mackay and \ onng. Mr Masters said Mr Trimble had been a member of the Board for many years, being chairman for the last 'five years. Ho had spared neither time nor pains in the cause of education, and not only the present members of the Board, hnl the whole of Taranaki appreciated his S ' l ' l(L .‘ The iother gentlemen named, esp jlllv Mr Adlam. who had been a momhpi- ( ,f the Board for 1 bettor than and who probably know,

any other person, the education system of Taranaki and what work it had jntailed to bring it to its present position, had also rendered signal services. Rev. A. B. Chappell endorsed the chairman’s remarks, paying special tribute to Mr Trimble’s enthusiasm. He had pleasure in seconding the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Trimble thanked the members for their expression of appreciation, he was only sorry he had forfeited the confidence of the Board. Mr Wilkinson said Mr Trimbles last remark was not warranted; it was not a question of want of con-1 fidence. The new Board was well aware of the amount of work Mr Fiim-j hie had done in the cause of education; he had labored maniully, and everyone recognised his valuable aid.j The election of Mr Masters was not significant of a vote oi want ol co»- | fidence in Mr Trimble. Mr M ilkinson hoped that the late chaiiman would see the matter in anothei light. Mr Trimble said he had nothing more to say, and the Board then went into' committee to discuss the question of technical and manual classes and appointments.