SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 48, 15 February 1908, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

The School Commissioners met \e.>tenhiy. Present: Messrs. .las. Wade (chairman), W. T. Jennings, .\|.p, ; C'.K. Major, Ml'., ]•'. Simpson (Commissioner of Crown Lands|. and 11. I'uull. A DKFAI LTINI, TENANT. The Hoard disci(.,cil it some length the hest means of pi.;...dure in con-ncc-tion with a lessee at Strall'or,l whose rents were ahout CI 00 in arrears. Ii was pointed out tliat the rates p.nab'e on the lau.l almost coiistituieil a" rem for it. There might ue .some .lillieullv in re-letting the land, and it was also remarked that it would pay belter to leave the land in the hands'of the tenant, even rent free, for if unoccupied at would cost the Hoard from C2II lo C2"> to cope with the weeds. Messrs [-'null and Jennings, however, maintained that the interests of Uiu Trust must l„. maintained, and the suggested system was loose. Ik-sides, the land iniisl be worth something. Eventually the Board decided that unless the'tenant makes a certain lixod payment within three months the lease will be terminated. COST OF LEASES.

The chairman moved, according to notice, -That henceforth the Commission, ers bear one-thiril ol the cost of all leases." The secretary received a letter from the Auckland Hoard, statins; thai the practice there was to charge two guineas (including 3s slump duty where the amount necessitated that uiuoum only), but where the conditions were special, and a lengtliv lease required, the fee was live guineas. There had been 174 leases of! the lirsl class to 12 of the second. N T > transfer fee was charged. The lessee was allowed to engage his own solicitor but had also to pay to the Hoard's solicitor a perusal fee of one guinea. It the Hoard's solicitor were engaged, the fee was saved. No deed or agreement for .submission to arbitration was prepared, the secretary doing what was necessary in that connection. Arbitrations, however, were rare. The chairman said that from what he could learn this Board was carrying on its work in a more hiiniucs-like manner than any of the other Hoards of School Commissioners.

Mr. Jennings said that might be, bill they were also adding to the, expenses of lessees. The chairman said it was a fact that other Boarde. bore a share of the cost. Mr. Jennings wanted sonic definite schedule of charges for leases. Was it intended to charge as much to prepare a lease of a quarter-acre section as of a 250-acres farm?

The chairman said he could not say. The solicitor was away. iifr. Jennings: I don't want a solicitor's opinion of wliat, in his opinion, the charge should tie. I want to know bow much we are going to charge. The chairman explained that the solicitor had prepared a schedule .of charges according to the nature of the land dealt with, and Mr. Simpson said he understood (he scale made allowance for small suburban leases.

Mr. Jennings moved an amendment that the solicitor should submit lo the Board his proposed list of charges. Mr. Faull disagreed with the suggestion that there should be a sliding scale, except that the Hoard should pay anything above the cost of a lease given by any other landowner.

Sir. Major considered the Taranaki Board was the only Board of .School Commissioners in New Zealand that conducted its business on sound commercial principles. Mr. Jennings: And the only one that there are complaints about. Mr. Simpson wanted to know what caused all this -{rouble about the cost of leases. Mr. Jennings said it arose from complaints made some time ago by Mr. Price and others of the Board's teiants. After further desultory discussion the matter was fttrther adjourned till next meeting, when the solicitor will be! asked to », mit his suggested scale of costs of leases.

Mr. Jennings gave notice that be would move ill the direction of asking Hie. Government to fix the fees, basing his motion 011 the want of uniformity in this matter throughout the Dominion. EXPIRING LEASES. The solicitor suggested tli.it notice should !>e given to tenants whiisej^^r .Air. attend .1-: that.

-'' The secretary replied that it was a matter for the solicitor. Mr. Sammd had always done it when lie was so'ieitor. Mr. Major: Then Mr. Samuel usurped the secretarial functions. Mr. Jennings: Why. the Hoard was run by Mr. Samuel, and you're all afraid to speak up.

The secretary -aid Mr. Samuel ha 1 never charged fur this work. l'pon the motion of Mr. Major, ii was decided to instruct the secretary to send out the notices, PEKEAKI'HE SCHOOL SITE. Mr Faull reported that the Pukoaruue school site was quite unsiiitcd for the purpose, and suggested that the chairman, the solicitor, ami the mover he empowered to effect an exchange for land close by.—Adopted. RANGERS' REPORTS. The ranger (Mr. (J. A. Marchant) reported on the rural reserves. On the whole, the report was very satisfactory, especially in regard to new tenants of lands that had given great trouble in the past. California!! thistle wis spreading on the Manganui town belt reserve.

A letter from the tenant stated tint this had since been attended to. II" had allowed it to grow to a fair heigh!, with a view to its eradication. The report mentioned a holding in tin l Tongaporutu district. The secretary reported that the rent on this was in arrears.

Air. Jennings said this land was aosolule.lv useless for separate oceupatioii. It war, decided to re-enter. A similar course was adopted in regard to two leases at Slhihirst. Mr. D. Sole reported very favorably upon town and suburban reserves. The reports were adopted, and the suggestions will be given effect to. GENERAL. Transfers were approved: 11. W. Savlon to OUf Carlson, section 11, block .">, Egmont: J. Mercer to .Tohn MeComiell. section X block 15. Patea town.

The Board granted -I. Flynn's rc<|ucsi ! for it re-valuation in terms of the lea-e of section 184, Hawera: and Steel Bros.' in respect of part section -. Turunitangi. S. A. .lohnsou was given permission to sub-let to It. Bullock. L. \V. Alexander's application for renewal least' was adjourned tijj,-]ie\r meeting, fin-,4wili£^(jffltffillation. . U-waw-iiWiflpil to re-enter on the lease of a section at Bell Block leased to I'. Xortlicote. deceased. FINAXCK. The treasurer reported a credit li.il- | ancc of C 1454 18s 3d. [ Accounts amount hi;.' t" Ci'l |.">- were passed for payment.