POINTS FROM MEETINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 342, 1 May 1928, Page 14

POINTS FROM MEETINGS

VIEWS AND NEEDS

Open-air schools were favourably considered at many of the householders’ meetings last evening. At Point Chevalier a letter was received from the National Council of Women, stressing the importance of the new type of school and the benefits which had attended their establishment in Canterbury. It was decided to refer the question to the incoming commiti tee for consideration. Open-air classes I were also advocated at Gladstone and ; Onehunga and Meadowbank. * * * ! After six years’ association with the ! Point Chevalier committee, three years of which he was chairman, Mr. F. G. Rose retired last evening. Members of the retiring committee presented Mr. Rose with an inscribed fountain pen. Mr. S. G. Crook Bain, who made the presentation, eulogistically referred to Mr. Rose’s services. Increased accommodation is necessary in many Auckland schools, and at Ellerslie, Te Kuiti and Parnell the necessity for immediate action was urged. At Parnell it was hoped to erect a new school on another site, and every endeavour will be made to urge the Education Department to commence work at the earliest possible date. Attendances were, in the main, poor at last evening’s meetings, but that was only to be expected in such inclement weather. At a few schools where elections were being held on matters of policy, there were record numbers present. At Otorohanga 300 householders attended, and at Te Papapa and Howick there were record attendances. • • * A number of school committees’ balance-sheets had not been audited in time for presentation at the annual householders’ meetings last evening. The reason was stated to be that the date appointed for the election of committees was announced this year at shorter notice than is usual. Realising the importance of swimming as a part of primary school curriculum, the Ponsonby Schools’ Committee has decided to make arrangements for the systematic teaching of swimming to the children in the four schools under its control. At Royal Oak the committee was recommended to reconsider the question of securing baths for the school, a similar resolution being passed at Edendale, where it is hoped that the council will establish a swimming bath at the re-cently-opened Gribblehurst Park. A motion favouring the teaching of swimming was also passed at Newton. * * • Only seven persons attended the meeting at Parnell. They had all been nominated for the committee, for which an election was not necessary. * • * The danger of the Argyle Street railway crossing was emphasised at Mt. Albert, when an offer from the Edendale School Committee to give the Mount Albert School pupils a day at the Edendale dental clinic was considered. The chairman, Mr. Wilson, considered it would be too dangerous for the very young children to have to cross the railway line on the way to Edendale, and it was decided to take no action regarding the offer. V » • A scholarship, to be known as the “Newton West Fallen Soldiers’ Scholarship,” will be created at Newton shortly, as the school memorial fund has now reached the total of £ 50. » * • Almost a record in school pupils’ deposits in the Auckland Savings Bank has been established by the scholars of the Edendale School. The scheme was started about 18 months ago, and the total amount placed to the credit of the scholars is £SOO, the. weekly deposits averaging about £9. • * • At Stanley Bay, where Mr. W. K. Howitt presided, 14 candidates offered themselves for election. Two prizes, offered by the Mayor of Devonport, Mr. E.. Aldridge, were accepted with thanks. * * * The Mount Roskill Committee was authorised to utilise the funds raised for a dental clinic in erecting a children’s workshop. The building will be so erected that, when a dental clinic is established, it will serve the purpose. * * * Drainage works affecting the Maungawahau School are in need of immediate attention, and it was decided last evening to urge the Mount Eden Borough Council to give the question its immediate attention. The question of the establishment of a dental clinic was left in the hands of the incoming committee.

So large was the attendance at the Otorohanga meeting that no room in the school could accommodate the meeting, and it was necessary to adjourn to the town hall.

Free books and stationery for school children wer© advocated at the Onehunga meeting, and the incoming committee was urged to make all endeavours to secure the Education Department’s approval of th© proposal.

Central heating will be installed at the Raetihi school, and the committee was recommended to obtain fullest details of - costs of both hot water and electrical heating systems, so that the matter may be expeditiously dealt with.

The headmaster of the Belmont school, Mr. R. Harrison, suggested to householders last evening direct subscription for providing funds for school purposes as more desirable than the present system of raising money through entertainments, dependent on the efforts of the school staff. The school needed £IOO a year above the Education Board’s grant, and a subscription of 5s from each household would provide that amount. It was agreed that os should be the minimum amount, and it was decided that the proposal should be a recommendation to the new committee.