SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 289, 29 April 1913, Page 8

S CHOOL COMMITTEES

ANNUAL ELECTIONS. The annual meetings of householders in connection with the election of school committees throughout the district were held last night. CENTRAL.

At tlie Central School, Mr. G. Roper presided over an attendance of 27 householders.

In his annual report the Chairman of the Committee (Mr. ¥. P. Corkill) stated that the average attendance on March 31 was 53(1 compared with 515 in 1912, and the roll number 504, compared with 595 in 1912. The present roll number was 1)04. The staff at present comprised the headmaster (Mr. Dempsey), eight assistants (two males and six females), and five pupil teachers (two males and three females), The teachers appointed during the year were all doing excellent work, anil the school as a whole was still going strong. Continuing, the Chairman referred to the old age of the present school buildings, the necessity for school baths, and then outlined the position in regard to the proposal to erect a school at Vogeltown. A section had been pur-! chased, and the Department had at present under consideration an application' by the Board for the erection of a school., Proceeding, he said that he was sorry that the school cadets had gone out of existence. He thought that before long it would be discovered that their abolition was a very grave mistake. Boys should be taught to drill and to use arms at a much earlier age than at present provided. He hoped that the Govern- | ment would reinstate the cadets on a I much better footing than previously;' The school boys scout troop was still going pretty strong and in this connection they were greatly indebted to Mr. J. R. Sullivan for the* lively interest he had taken in the corps. 'Touching on the finances. Mr. Corkill said that the the capitation worked out at 2s 8d per head. The Act provided that the Boaid was to distribute not less than 5s Gd per head, but unfortunately the Board had certain discrimatory powers in the shape of a sliding scale, which enabled them to give the small schools very much more capitation than the larger schools. Another Is more per head would in tlie case of the Central School make all the difference between penury and comparative affluence. Concluding, Mr .Corkill made reference to the very satisfactory results obtained by the school during the year under review. The report by •the inspector* was more satisfactory than it had ever been before.

The report was unanimously adopted and on the motion of the Rev. Archdeacon Evans a heartv vote of thanks was accorded those who had contributed to the success of the Central School Carnival. The school staff were also heartily thanked for their services, as were also the retiring committee, especially Messrs. Corkill and Mills, chairman and secretary respectively. The following committee were elected: —S. G. Smith, Dolbv, Rev. Osborne. Archdeacon Evans, C. T. Mills, E. Griffiths, Sinclair, Hargraves, and Russell. The unsuccessful candidates were:— Messrs." Corkill, Milne and Short. Messrs Milne and Russell tied. witlr 16" votes apiece, and a "toss-up" resulted in Mr. Russell being appointed. Immediately on the declaration of the poll, the Rev. Archdeacon Evans remarked that he wished to retire in favour of Mr. Corkill, but the chairman ruled that it was not competent for Mr. Evans to hand in his resignation at the meeting of householders.

The new committee met subsequently, when Mr .S. G. Smith was elected chairman and Mr. C. T. Mills hon. secretary (re-el sited). >

The committee will meet at 7.30 p.m. in the Town Hall on the third Tuesday in each month.

FRANKLEY.

Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P., presided over about thirty householders.

The annual report congratulated the district on the satisfactory progress the school was making under the able supervision of Mr. Winfield, the headmaster, and his assistants. The roll numbers showed a steadv increase. At the end of 1912,, the roll, was 103, .while at present it was 107. The average attendance for the year 1912 was 85, while for the quarter ending March 31 it was 96. The •school was now in Garde 5. The committee regretted to report the death if the assistant, Miss McDermid, who had done such good and conscientious work. During the last six months of 1912 there were five changes in the staff, which interfered eonsiderablv with the successful working of the school.' At the beginning of the present vear Miss Hare was appointed first assistant and Miss Parli second assistant. The school was now too small to accommodate the present number of children, and the gymnasium had to be used for the primer classes. The committee had applied to the Education Board for a subsidy, which was granted toward filling in the hollow m the play ground, which had effected a great improvement, and considerably enlarged the play ground. The school account commenced with a credit of £3 Nis 2d and closed with a credit of £2 lis Bd. The gymnasium account, which commenced with a credit of £3 lis 7d, closed with a balance of 9s sd. The committee thanked Messrs. Duncan and Davies and Mrs. Arden for the gift of shrubs.

The following were nominated and elected a committee for the ensuin" year: -Messrs. G. Bendall, J. Hamilton", A. Lister. Ci. Tippins, W .Eva, W. Prentice and A. C. Downes.

A resolution was passed placing on record appreciation of the work of the headmaster. Mr. Winfleld, and his -A.\tt. Mr. A. C. Downes wcs elected chairman and secretary to the committee.

WEST END SCHOOL. The annual meeting 0 f householders of the West End School District was held last evening. Mr. J. B. Roy presided over aii attendance of about 25. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £35 lfls From this a number of small accoun 1 ' will be paid, leaving a fair balance in hand. Owing to the absence of the chairman of the/ committee (Mr. TI. Gilbert), whose business duties at Stratford prevented his; attendance, the annual report was not presented.

Woven nominations were received for the committee for tin; ensuing year, and tin- following nine wore elected: .Messrs. K. Greincr, G. Cammock, I. Morrison, ,1. Hawker, A. K. Smart, J. Brokenshirc, It. ,1. Deure, J<\ Ilardwidgc and W. \V. Thompson.

On the motion of Mr. R. J. Deare a hearty vote of thanks was proposed to the head teacher (Mrs. Howling), and the stalf. for the excellent working of the school during the past year. The motion was carried witli acclamation.

.Mrs. Powling thanked the householders on behalf of herself and stall', and stated tlie work was undertaken with a "i-eat ilea! of pleasure. The utmost was done to give the children a good grounding in education, and care was taken to instil manners and courtesy in the children's minds to aid them when away from school duties.

A hearty vote of thanks was proposed to ths late chairman (Mr. 11. Gilbert) who had filled the position of chairman at the school for the past ten years. Regret was expressed that Mr. Gilbert's business duties at Stratford prevented his being present at the meeting. Votes of thanks to the chairman and secretary concluded a meeting, the business of which was put through in twenty minutes.

At a subsequent meeting of the newlyformed committee. Mr. .1. Morrison was elected chairman and Mr. W. W. Thompson secretary. , •^

FITZROY SCHOOL. The annual meeting of householders was held in "the Fitzroy School at 7 p.m. last evening ,when a rather poor showing of householders was in evidence. The Rev. J. A. Kempthorne, chairman of the school committee, took the chair, and submitted ' the (annual report, which stated, inter alia, that numerous changes in the staff had militated against continuity of work. The committee had held eight meetings and the attendance of members was as follows:—Mr. White 8, Mr, Kempthorne 7, Mr. Reid 6, Mr. Cathro 6. Mr. Harvey 0, Mr. Mack 5, Mr. Rice 2, Mr. Lawn 'l, Mr. Aroa 0. The roll number stood at 100, heing identical with that of the previous year. The average for the year stood at 154, seven v less than the number required to obtain a male assistant. The school had taken first place in its Board scholarship division, Marjory Wilson being first and 1 Frank Kelly second. Eleven scholars had obtained proficiency certificates and three competency certificates. Most of ■ them were availing themselves of further tuition. The headmaster had circularised the parents on the subject of the Bible in schools, and the classes [ were now well attended.. A committee I nf -oininr nirn had been formed to work with the school committee in the erection of a gymnasium for the school, and funds totalling £23 10s were available. The Education Board had granted £35. It was proposed to erect the building by a working bee on June 3rd, and to hold a concert in it in the evening. The building would be available for the vouths of the district in the evening, and Mr. Lints had promised Instruction. Mr. Cathro read the balance-sheet, showing receipts £36 18s fld. expenditure £33 10s 4d, with a credit of £3 8s sd.

The report and balance-sheet as read were adopted.

Mr. Johnson referred, to the benefits accruing from having a male assistant at the school. Mr. ,Griffiths moved and Mr. White seconded that it bie a recommendation to the incoming committee to approach the Borough Council in • conjunction with other committees to supply water to schools free or at a reduced rate.

The committee for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—Messrs. Reid, Kempthorne, White, Jones, Arden, nnd W. TT. Griffiths. Subsequently /Hie new committee held a meeting, when Mr. White was elected secretary and the Rev. J. A. Kempthome, chairman.