NEW PLYMOUTH SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 30 June 1902, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION.

THE POSITION AS BETWEEN BOARD AND COMMMTEE. DEPUTATION TO THE BOAKn. A BRISK DISCUSSION. ] Tab evergreen subject of the adminis-1 trutbiu of the New Plymouth schoolsI was again before the Educition Bond t I last Wednesday, when a deputation, I consisting of Messrs Cbllis and Jackson, attended from the New Plymouth School Committee. They stated thai the committee desired to have tht itposition in relitioa to the New Plymouth schools clearly defined. Complaint was made of sime misunderstanding which bad arisen inconntcion with the contract for supply of woo i to the town schools, A cmtract had ben made with one dealer by the old committer and when the management of the schools was taken over* by the Board mpplies had been obtained from ano' her man. The Chairman pointed out that the Board was unaware of the existence of a.contraot whon it ordered suppli s, the committee no 1 ; having it,fo. niei tin 1 Board of the fact. Mr M-ckay asked Mr Oollii if th? deputation hid come to the Bond to make an endeavour to br'ng ahoufc a ( hirmonious state of. affairs between the two bodies, or, said Mr Mackay, " do you intend to fight the Bjard?" He was willing to assist in ciming to an amicable arrangement, but if the committea wanted to fight ha was prepared to fight too, Mr Co'lis (warmly): We want (o work on an amicible footing. When the new committee came into offica we wro'e a civil letter to the Biard swtirg that we were prepared to carry on the work as a new committee, and to do our best in the interest of the schools as far as the funds wtnild allow. To this we received no answer. I consider Mr Maekay's remarks, under the circumstances, unoalled for. Mr Mackay said he was gUd to learn that the committee had taken up such an attitude, and if it was tiue no reply had been sent and the committee treated with discourtesy, he was pleased to apologise for his remarks. The chairman siid he was under the impression that a reply had bean sent. Mr Wade considered the committee were entitled to a reply. The*secretary here produced the letter b:ob, showing a letter had been sent in reply, dated 31st May, to to the committee, which, after dealing with finance', that the B.nrd could not treat the Nev Plymouth committee differently from others in the district - , Mr Colli-) said this was not taken as a reply to the committee's letter signifying that they were willing to carry out their duties. Further, in view s£ the fict that the Board's Committee bad continued to carry on affairs at the schools, the committee h:d come to the conclusion that the Board was taking up the old position, as existing prior to the election of the new committee. The chairmin said he, as chairman, was doing so, as the Boards Committee did not now exist. •Mr Mackay moved tbat the Board - appoint a committee, consisting of the the chairman and Mr Allsworth, to confer with the New Plymouth School Committee with a view of putting relations between the two bodies on a satisfactory basis, Mr Adlam seconded. Mr Allsworth wanted to state clearly his position in connection with the rmtter. The chairman of the School Committee had, it seemed to him, tried te make the Board responsible to the committee, instead of the committee being responsible to the Board. He considered the committee ought to take up their duties like the other committees in the district. It was time the condition of uff <ira which had existed during the past twelve months was altered. Mr Mack>y's remarks were'not a bit too strong. For years this committee had been treat d with exceptional liberality, and now, instead of being grateful, they wanted to dictate to the Board and requested to be supplied with particularsof accouut?,etc If the committee were not willing to work as as others did they should resign, and let someone else be appointed who would. He (the speaker) was prepare i to make a stand, even if it rae.nt doting the town schools, if that wuull bring about a termination of the present unsatisfactory position. Tn'er.i were now 100 more children attending than there were a year or so ago, for whom the committee received 4s' fid per head capitation, while the expecdi- . ture was the same, and yet they were . attempting to force the band of the , Board. He was not prepared to , make any compromise whatever. The Board must face the position, and throw the onus on the committee, j If the school became insanitary the Department would s'ep in

and settle who should p'ace the sohool in a proper condition. Any other position was untenable and unfair to other committees. Regarding the financial position there was nothing- to warrant the committee's allegation that tfcey could not carry on with their ini'rae. The j reservation at the end of their letter, to only go as far as funds would that the new committee trending in tin llteps of the and it was time tha BoaHbrought things to some state of final BR | Mr Faull he quita agreed with pLv AilsworH and the committee mast not the Board would trett this dWnittee differently to other coinmitflHi, j Mr Wade iKed with Mr Faull. I Mr Mortonlfcughi; Mr Allsworth's jjremavka had H| rather strong. Tlw Committee wHnsw one, and tho 'Board had r,cp|nlwl6d';e yet of thfir doing anything in opposition to it. He was afraid, after* Mr Allsworth's remarks, it would gtve umbrage, and not lead to a settlement, if he was on ths comrnittea. The Board's desire was to treat all committess fairly. Mr Ails worth said ho would be glad to be reli-ved^ Mr_ Adlam thought that if all the I committee wanted to know was their financial position, there was no difri cultyj-but he st ongly suppotted Mr Allsworth being on the committee. Mr Kennedy also spoke in appreciation of the stand taken up by Mr Allsworth, and did not think he would be unfair in his treatment of the committee. Mr Mackay supported what Mr Allsworth had stid. fie kn&w Mr Allsworth would do what was fair as between this and "other committees undir the Board. He felt 6uro tho New Plymouth School Committo;; would be prepared, in face of what had I passed, "to surrender and stop tho ivar," and take up their work the same j is other committees did. j The Chairman also hoped Mr Alls- '

worth would remain on the committee. Mr Allswortb said he* was in the hands cf the Board, but wished to make his position clear. The resohitiou Was put atd earred unauimouslv.