SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 311, 10 June 1915, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

.ANNUAL 00>>TFER"ENCE. The annual report of the Taranaki School Committees' Asociation, to bo considered at to-day' 9 conference, to be held in New Plymouth, is as follows: , The amended Education Act brought down during.last session of Parliament,' and now passed into law, caused your executive a great amount of anxiety and worry. The most serious objection to the ißill as presented to Parliament was the grave injustice it proposed to inflict on Taranaki, by taking away its educa> tion district, and placing the control of all schools- in the'district under the Wanganui Education Board. Your executive took immediate steps to acquaint those in authority of our strongest possible objection to such a course being adopted. The leaders and representatives of all parties in Parliament were communicated with, and out desires made known to them, and the result was that the question of fixing the boundaries was left to a, commission to report on, the number of education districts being limited to eight or nine' for the whole of tho Dominion. The Commission will make their recommendations to Parliament, and, in accordance with the Act, Parliament will then finally settle the matter. The Commission duly opened at, New Plymouth during the present month, and your executive was represented by Mr. G. S. White, secretary, who on behalf of the whole of the committees of this district strongly protested against the proposed abolition of the Taranaki district; but notwithstanding the weighty evidence that was tendered, the Commissioners gave the impression that they were in favor of the Wanganui district. Therefore, your executive feels that no effort must bo spared in order to retain the Taranaki district. Your executive feels that it has done everything that it has been possible to do in this connection, and the matter is now in the hands of committeemen throughout the district, and they have the opportunity now of making their combined influence felt. Before disposing of this matter your executive desires to express its appreciation of the assistance rendered by the members of (Parliament for the district and the school committees, who, by holding meetings in their district* and condemning the proposed change, have assisted in no small degree. Owing to the war, the work of thoroughly organising the whole district was not completed, and your executive was only able to arrange for delegates to attend at one centre during.the year. The changing from one district to another of several members in outlying districts who had agreed to assist in organising was the means of breaking off arrangements in one or two districts, but it is sincerely trusted that, for .tho good of all, the wihole of the district should be thoroughly united in the near future; The Education Act, 1914, came into operation in January last, but owing to the regulations not having been issued it is impossible to pass any definite opinion a» to whether there is any material improvement effected. It is, however, pleasing to note that the capitation grant to committees shows some improvement, and it can 'be safely said that this is in no small measure due to the persistent agitation of School Committee Associations, and your executive feels that even this small measure of success entitles the Association to the whole-hearted help of all committees in the'district.