Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING, The ordinary meeting of the New Plymouth High School Board was held last night, when there were present -Messrs E. Dockrill (chairman), E. P. Webster, F. Atkinson, D. Hutchen, J. S. Fox, and H. Trimble. Leave of absence was granted Dr. Fookes. When the minutes of the last special meeting were read for confirmation Mr. Trimble pointed out that he had voted against both amendment and resolution, whereas lie had been credited with voting for the amendment. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The chairman intimated that by statute the chairman had to be elected at the January meeting. He also stated tlia't when appointed last year he had given the members definitely to understand that he would not seek reelection. He would, therefore, be pleased to second anyone that was proposed.

Mr. D. ITirlehon was then proposed by Mr. \i. P. Webster and .seconded by ilhe retiring chairman. He was elected unopposed. Tn declaring him elected, ■Mr. Dockrill referred to tho energy displayed by Mr. Hutchen as a member and though he could not see eye to dye with him in all things, he was pleased to welcome him to the chair. Mr. Hutchen in returning thanks said 'ihat he was a busy man and foresaw that if they were to carry out the programme proposed this year would be a busy one for the chairman as well as the members. Ho would do his best to fulfil the position satisfactorily. Mr. Trimble, in congratulating-the chairman hoped that he would put members in possession of the whole facts regarding the financial position, of which so far, the speaker had been unable to get a proper basis. This the chairman promised to do. ' RESIGNATIONS. Messrs A. MeHardy and W. N. Ewing wrote tendering their resignations as members of the Board. The latter in doing so said that after carefully considering the positon he found that he was so entirely at variance with the policy decided upon by a majority of the Board at a meeting held on December •20th, and he was unable to co-operate in carrying that policy into effect. Mr. M. Fraser wrote tendering his resignation, and in a covering letter to the chairman said that he did so with much regret, after such long and pleasant relations -with the present Board, and also with many members who devoted years of useful work to the management of the seliopl." The fact ithat he cannot see eye to eye with a few members of the Board would certainly not justify me in resigning at the present juncture. These members have advocated a policy to which I could not agree, hut their consistency and optimism was highly commendable. In your own ease, however, it is different. Since the girls have been thrown out of the. High School building three years ago, you have again and again advocated justice, for them, and in your own words it was 'a crying scandal the way they were treated,' yet when the time came that by your one single vote all the wrongs could be righted, you deliberately voted against them, and, in ,my opinion, dealt a death blow to national education ir Taranaki. You are well aware from information which I know you possess, that, the third contract will not he carried out, I consider your conduct at last night's special meeting highly reprehensible." Mr. Dockrill, in asking permission to make a statement said tliat he was rather surprised to read the letter. He did not intend to recriminate, as from his long association with Mr. Fraser, he had always found him a man of sterling character. He would defy anyone to say tha'li he had ever broken his word, nor had he promised anyone to vote in any particular way. He had always fought for the three buildings, and did so until he saw from the financial statement that they would not be able to build more 'than two. It was then a question to decide which two. Whether he had done wrong or right, ho had thrown sentiment to the winds. He would say again that the girls had been treated scandalously, not by the Board, bu'i. by the Government. He would, in fact, ne prepared to go so far as not to erect classrooms, but thrown the responsibility on the Government. He had favored erecting the 'three buildings all the time, but he considered himself quite at liberty to deal with the matter, when shown in a new light, to the best of his ability, knowledge and powers of reasoning. He had voted for the benefit of the school and he thought that this would work out right in the future. He had never handed over his opinions (to any one, and he was prepared to take the full responsibility of his actions?

On the motion of Messrs Trimble and Atkinson, the resignation* were accepted with regret. On the motion of Mr. E. P. Webster, the question of appointing members to replace Messrs Fraser and MeHardy was held over till next meeting. On the motion of Messrs Atkinson and Fox it was resolved to recommend Mr. J. E. Wilson to the Governor for appointment to tho vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. W. N. Ewing. GENERAL, It. was resolved to ask the Taranaki Rugby Union to award the Bayly Scholarship to M. Atkinson in place of A. R. Callander, the winner, who was unable to hold it owing to holding an Education Board Scholarship. M. Atkinson was second on the list. A telegram was received from the Public Trustee that 'the Board's application for a loan would be considered this week.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19160118.2.20

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1916, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
944

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD. Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1916, Page 3

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD. Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1916, Page 3

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert