EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 5, 30 June 1911, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARD.

i ' MONTHLY MEETING. Tlic Education Board meeting was con!i':in'il yesterday, nil the members being pi'CSCIU. SUBSIDIES ON VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. Mi-. A. 8011, secretary of Hie South Canterbury Education Board wrote that his board had had under consideration the question of subsidies on voluntary contributions, and passed the following resolution: "That the attention ol the Minister of Education be drawn to the injustice arising out of section 100 of the Education Act 'because subsidies, are payable on contributions to district high schools, and not on contributions to other local schools; and that in order, U> encourage school committees and ethers interested to raise funds for the benefit of their schools the Minister be requested to have the Act amended in the direction o( making these subsidies available for all public schools." The granting of tliese subsidies to district high schools, the circular pointed out, and the denial of them to other public schools, many of them larger and more important, caused a great deal of dissatisfaction in these districts, where large sums arc raised by school committees for improvements of their* grounds and buildings. As this was a matter that affected the whole Dominion, and one the injustice of whic l !! must be felt by every Education Board, he had been directed to ask for this Board's support in requesting the Miniter to have the law amended. I

Mr. Trimble said it was quite as reasonable to ask the Department to subsidise moneys raised in districts for the primary schools as for ■ district high schools, and moved that the Board support tlie South Canterbury Board in their action.

Mr. Morton seconded, and the motion was carried.

PUKEARUHE SCHOOL SITE.

Mr. llaleom.be reported in reference to the school site at Pukearuhe, stating that Mr. Watkins had agreed to give the eight acres asked for in exchange for the seven acres at Wai-iti, subject to certain conditions.—Report received and adopted, the necessary steps to be taken to acquire the site. 'Tile thanks of the Board -will be tendered to Mr. Watkins for agreeing to the exchange.

NEW SCHOOLS WANTED.

Mr. Rogers reported that he had visited the Waingongoro road in connection with the application of the settlers for a school. He found that there were nineteen children of school age, !ivir" from three to five miles from any school, and eleven of these wore -not attending any school at present. Should the Board see its way to erect a school, j he settlers were prepared to do all caning of materials and to help in any way. A central site could be obtained near the creamery. He recommended that the, Board favorably consider the application.

The report was received, and the usual forms will be sent out to the householders interested.

The Chief Inspector reported on the request of the settlers for the establishment of a school near Mt. Messenger, that the distance of the proposed school from the Uruti school was about five miles. The number of children of school -■ye who would at present attend if the -eliool were established is fifteen. The number of children in the district whowere under school age was twelve. The school site was fairly level, dry and cleared. He recommended the Board to accept the offer of the residents to erect a building be accepted. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr. Halcombe reported that the boundaries of the Piko school had been arranged; and the following committee appointed: Messrs. T. W. Cook- (chairman), C. V. Ekdahl, W. A. Henwood, T. H. Henwood, and E. Whittakor.—Report received and adopted, boundaries to be gazetted.

Mr. Young reported in reference to the Oeo school site, recommending the purchase of a, site of two acres °from Mr. Moon at £4O an acre.—Report received and adopted, and an application will be made to the Department for a grant.

Mr. M. Rudd's request that his son's scholarship be transferred from New Plymouth to Auckland, where he now resides, was .weeded to. '

The request of Mr. R. C. Gardner, of Uuiroa, for a new lease of a reserve of 10% acres adjoining his present holding was referred to Mr. Rogers to report.

Mrs. Warner, teacher at Koru, wrote thanking the Board for additions effected at the residence.

The Board approve.! the action of the Rowan, Huirangi, Tuna, and Opua committees in closing their schools owing to the prevalence of epidemics of measles and influenza.

The secretary of the Kaimiro committee wrote in reference to the Board's refusal to recognise Mr.- Gopperth as a member of the committee. The latter had deferred action for a month, but meanwhile assured the Board that Mr Gopperth has satisfied them that he was a. householder and therefore qualified to net on the committee.—Mr. Trimble is to make enquiries and report at next meeting.

Miss F. O'Brien and Miss Gleeson were granted the leave of absence they were obliged to take owing to illness. Resignations were accepted of Miss Worm, sole teacher, Rowan, and Miss H. Black, sole teacher. Waitui. Messrs. Brown and Sanger applied for a lease of a 15 acres reserve (the Omona school site) on the Puniwhaknu road, ollcring <s (id an acre.—Referred to •Mr. Kennedy for, a report.