SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 252, 16 July 1915, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

ORDINARY MEETING. Th e first ordinary monthly meeting of the Taihape School Comraittee.since their election, was held in the school building last night, when the following members of th Q Committee were pres-

ent: Mr Joblin (chairman), Mrs Boyd, and Messrs Mercer, McCormick, and Kuhtze. Apologies were offered for Rev. Stent and Rev. Catherwood. The chairman read a letter from Mr J. Donovan, tendering his resignation, owing to his inability to attend the

Burrell be elected to fill the vacancy. This gentleman had tied with him when voting was taken at th e householders’ meeting,and Mr Donovan stated that if he bad been aware of this fact he would at once hav e z-etired in favour of Mr Burrell

On the motion of Messrs McCormick and Kuhtze, the resignation was received with regret. Mr Mercer moved that Mr Burrell be elected to the Committee. Mr McCormick seconded and the resolution was carried unanimously.

Mr Burrell, who was in attendance in returning thanks, said he was ; not present because he was aware of the vacancy, but because h e had decided at the time of the election that he would continue to take an interest in the work whether defeated or not. He thanked thenl for electing him. The election'of secretary was then taken in hand and Mr Kuhtze was pro. posed.

Mr Kuhtze said he would tak e the position rather than see them in difficulty, but he would prefer some one else to tak 0 it- He would propose Mr Burrell.

Mr McCormick seconded, and the resolution was carried.

The chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Kuhtze for the work he had done for th e Committee. Messrs Burrell and Kuhtz e thanked

the meeting for th e honour it had conferred on them. A letter was received from the Education Board at Wanganui District stating that Miss R. E. Piercy had been granted leave of absence. —Received.

The head teacher’s report was sub--1 mitted for the period ending 2nd July, which he stated that the attendances had been considerably reduced through sickness. Several repairs and alterations to the grounds were advocated. The chairman moved th e adoption of the report, and that the chairman hnd secretary b e authorised to carry out the repairs. In referring to th 6 financial position, th e . chairman said they were £6O 19/ in credit This was not a great sum, but they had very few accounts to par. ...

The following ‘accounts were passed for payment: W. Paradin e £8; W. Walker, £9 18/5; H. D. Bennett and Co.. 9/11; Morgan and Co.. £1 13/6; H. Dashwood, £2 9/9; Mrs Bamfleld 14/2.

Th e Question of the advisability of ke-eping'the school closed for a further period was then discussed, the chairman stating that if they opened the school and poor attendances were the result it would seriously affect their capitation money. This was not paramount, but needed consideration. Should they keep the school closed for a week longer or a fortnight? Mrs Boyd explained that measles took two weeks to develop and considered it would be adisable to keep the school closed for another fortnight. The chairman, speaking on behalf of Mr Catherwood, said that that committeeman was emphatic in advocat-

ing two weeks. On the motion of Mr McCormick, seconded by Mrs Boyd, it was unanimously decided to keep the school closed for a further fortnight.

The appointment of sub-committees was deferred until next meeting. The chairman said they now had to discuss the important resolution passed by the meeting of householders with regard to the altogether inadequate accommodation at the school. He had received a letter dated January 16th, with respect to plans, etc., for alterations, but had heard nothing about it since. It was necessary for them now to make a deermined move. The chair. ‘ man read the report submitted by the School Inspector? on March last, in which that officer referred to the difficulties e x P er i ence d owing to the cramped accommodation. Mr Mercer moved that the chairman be elected a committee, and when in Wanganui next h e approach th e Education Board and point out the need for alteration, quoting the inspector’s report. He might also interview the member for th e district. The chairman said he had spoken to Mr R. W. Smith, who had said he would endeavour to arrange for an interview with the Minister, if he went to Wellington. The speaker said he would be in Wanganui next Wednesday, and he thought the Board held their meeting on that day. Mr Mercer's resolution was eventually carried, giving Mr Joblin power to us© his own discretion. On the motion of Mr Mercer it was decided that the schocP. |shovdd te disinfected before worfe was resumed. It was decided that Mr ParadlnO-be reappointed to cleaa out the school, and also that Mrs ) tlrmr.irlt.3d. ‘ /

5 Before the meeting closed, Mr MerI cer stated that it had com e to I his hearing that people had questioned why a new man in the district should be appointed to th e committee. He A would like to mention that h e bad - two children attending the school, and had been on a similar committee of a. larger school in the South for over a year. Just a week prior to the tion of that committee for th e ensu-r~ ing year he had been transferred to the North Island, and he might, mention that he had always been interested in education work. He merely wished to make those few remarks. The meeting then closed.