HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1916, Page 8

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING The X>>w Plymouth Hij.li School Board met last night, when there were pre- ) sent, Messrs. D. Hutch™ (chairman), j K. Dockrill, H. Trimble, ,r. S. Fox, F. LW. Atkinson, and E. P. Webster. \ THE BOYS' SCHOOL Mr. W. H. Moves, Principal of the Boys' School, reported that the school opened on February 4th with a roll l number of 229, of which SO boys were I now boarding-. The strengths of the | various forms were: Via, 12; Vlb, 20; V, SO; IV, 38; Ilia, 35; Illb, 31; pre., f>7. Owing to the increase of numbers there was a shortage of classrooms, and he had therefore had a room at Niger House fitted up as a classroom for Form Via. He reported on the examination results (appearing elsewhere), and stated that r.wing to tiie fact that the Upper Sixth, last year, consisted wholly of University students it was impossible to enter any candidatefor the University Scholarship Examination. It was gratifying to be able to report, however, that for the first time for many years, the Sixtli Form now contained a number of boys who were working with the object of sititng for the University Scholarship I Examination, and those boys would give I a good account of themselves at the end of 1917. Mr. Moyes waited on the Board in connection, with various matters, and it was resolved to arrange for the Commercial Instructor (Mr. Falconer) to attend on four days per .week instead of three. Two additional typewriters will be procured. The headmaster was authorised to submit a price for an additional piano. Electric lights will be installed in an additional room.

REACHING THE, LIMIT. In stating that lie hart given up his accommodation and sent his children away in order to leave the front portion of the house available for boarders, Sir. Moves said that he had heard (.hot members of the Board considered that lie should have refused to take boys beyond the limit of accommodation provided. He had refused two boys from Auckland. Mr. Atkinson considered that 250 was the limit of a workable school. As they were Hearing that point he thought they should introduce an age limit into the Preparatory School. It was pointed out that there were only si.< boys under 10 years of age, and none were boarders.

Later on, the chairman said that he would oppose any increased expenditure during the year, as the financial position would not permit. He considered that the headmaster would have been well advised if he had refused to accommodate any additional boarders It was resolved on the motion of Messrs. Atkinson and Webster that Mr. Moves lie advised that the Board does not wisli the number of boarders to be increased during the next twelve months.

THE GIRLS SCHOOL. Miss Hodges, Principal of the Girls' High School, reported that the school rc-opened on February I! with a roll number of 78 Seniors, and 20 in the Pre Paratory Department, (if the Seniors, 73 were free, place pupils, 34 being newly enrolled. Owing to the large attendance the premises at present occupied were uncomfortably full. Four more double desks were urgently needed. When the power-house machinery was working, the loud hum and vibration made teaching impossible. The girls complained bitterly that they could neither hear nor think under such conditions. If some of the Board would visit the school while the engine was working they would see that this wa« no idle complaint. It threatened to hamper the work very seriously. Another difficulty that must be faced at once was the providing of a laboratory for practical science work. It was compulsory that the pupils taking science as an examination subject should complete a satisfactory course of practical work in their subjects. Had the new school been completed in time for the second term, this practical work might have been left till then, but now this was hopeless something else must be arranged or the girls would be penalised. She suggested that arrangements be made to have this taken at the Technical School or that a bench be set up on the jjtound floor at the school. The new teachers —Misses Aitken, Clark and Porter—had arrived and had taken up their duties. The boarding establishment opened with its full complement, fourteen. Owing to want, of further accommodation she most unwillingly had to refuse five other applcatlonu. In connection with the noise, the secretary 'tated that two of the new teachers had interviewed him and complained that it was impossible to teach.

Mr. Trimble said that he had visited the school. There was considerable noise and vibration, 'the latter being the most troublesome. Members were of opinion that the running of the trams had greatly accentuated the position. If the' trouble could not be remedied, it would be necessary to remove the school. During discussion the rooms under the racecourse were mentioned. " Finally, the whole matter of arranging for removal of the school, if necessary, and also for the science classes was left in the hands of the chaiimin and Mr. Trimble. DEPUTATION' TO WELLINGTON. The chairman reported that he and Mr. Webster, accompanied by Mr. Okey, 11.1'.. had waited on the Premier, and the Hons. Allen and Hanan. They submitted proposals—(l) That the Government should give them a grant of £4OOO towards the Girls' School when finances would permit, and in the meantime continue the payment of .£2OO per annum rent: (2) Give consent to borrowing £SOOO for the Girls' Boarding! House; (3) Sanction the building of the Girls' School nnd Boarding House on Skeats' site, 'they received a favorable'hearing from the Premier, but the others were frankly hostile. In the first place they had newspaper reports of recent meet ings of the Board, showing that differences of opinion on the schemes had resulted in members resigning, and, secondly, the time was inappropriate for increasing the Board's liabfilitics. They commented on the fact that the Board .had so often varied their proposals, starting out to borrow £OOOO for the three buildings and now increasing l this to £IG,OOO. Thirdly, no grant should bo made to an endowed school. Finally, Mr. Allen, supported by Mr. Hanan, objected to giving power to borrow on revenue from endowments, because the Government had to repay the bilk of money borrowed by increase of capitation. These last two objections, Mr Hutehen pointed out, were inconsistent. They had a discussion with the .Ministers on the promises made by the flovernmcnt regarding grants, and came to the conclusion that the Premier would favor a grant of £2OOO, which he had half promised before. On interviewing the Public Trustee, he learned that their application for a loan of E2OOO had been rejected on the previous day. Tji the afternoon they submitted proposals, in writing, to the Premier and asked for a grant of £2OOO in six months lo enable them to fulfil their engagements. They had also discussed Hie question of building on Skeats' site. Ur. Anderson, the Director of Education, was present.' They submitted Sir Francis p.clk' opinion, and the Ministers seemed favorably impressed. Mr. Okey. M.P., had attended and given every •assistance.

The chairman said that as the negotiations with the Department would take considerable time, and there had already been too much delay, he had given instructions to the architect to proceed with the erection on the original site. Regarding the grant a telegram w;u received from Dr. H. ,T. Anderson, Director of Education, stating that it would be necessary for t Board 'o negotiate a loan for £2OOO to co\er the present commitment, for which » grant was rot available. The chairman stated that the interview was with the Prime Minister and his colleagues. The Prime Minister stated that the proposals wind l, ( - submitted to Cabinet, and he did not believe lies would be so discourteous as to ;."ov a O.binci decision to be anno-need by an official. He beliewd that it had not yet teen submitted to cabinet. It was an r I tempt by the KdiMttion Tieparrment to secure the faction of the propo.-als by back-door methods. '.',' fore taking proceedings to raise the money by loan, he suggested that the Board should instruct him to write the Prime Minister for the Cabinet's decision, fie did not believe this would be unfavorable, but if it were he woim! have, a proposal to submit, regarding the £2OOO grant, at next meeting. After discussion it was resolved to authorise the chairman to write to the Premier. The action of the chairman in regard to the Girls' School site waß confirmed. Votes of thanks were accorded the chairman and Mr. Webster. In connection with the proposed acquisition of Mr. Skects' property at Fitzroy, as a site for the Girls' High School, the secretary for Education notified that it was now found that the official valuation of the land did not support the proposed payment, and further, that the case was complicated by the existence of roads intersecting the property of which no mention had hitherto been ma.--. In these circumstances it seemed necessary to refer the matter again to the Board, with a view to reconsideration and a further representation to (lie Goveinncnt.

FINANCIAL POSITION. The "hairman gave, a lenjtliy report on llio Board'* financial position. 'flic revenue for the previous year was as follow: (1) Rental from endowments. £O3B 17s. This might, be expected to increase after ten years when the leases lip.san to fall in; (2) Rental from Secondary Kditeation Reserves in province £Sf>o. At present New Plymouth received the whole of this, but when Stratford was established as a separate school it would share on a per capita basis; (3) Tuition fees, £OSO 13s (id. This will increase as the fees had been raised £1 4s per annum; (4) capitation, £2113 18s Id. ' This ranged at £4 to £l3 10s per pupil and was based on the average of the net annual income for the three years. Account was taken of expenditure on all buildings appaymontq made in reduction of mortproved by the. Department, and also on sage. They would, therefore, be able to secure maximum capitation for several roars.

A statement, nf revenue and expenditure submitted by the secretary showed receipts .■COS;'"! 14s 10d and expenditure COOS!] 10s I'd, leaving a credit of £240 ■la Id. Tn the receipts there was included a grant ot £4BO from the Department. If this was deducted it showed a debit of £230 15s Ud. This included all boarding accounts. Mr. Rally's balance-sheet for the schools nroper --bowed a debit of £32 2s lOd, the Boys' Boarding House, a credit of £2OO 7»'2(1, and the fiirls' Board School a debit of £•"> 7s 2d, or a total credit, of C 221 IT" 2d. From his inspection of tlio accounts he considered that the Hoard should in future ewireise the utmost care in authorising expenditure, and that any increase of capitation should not be treated as current income, but should be applied in reduction of loan. The chairman was accorded a, vote of thanks fur his report, GENERAL The Treasury notified payment to the Board's account of £2lO 12s sd, apportionment of revenue derived from reserves and endowments set apart for secondary education for the quarter ended December 81, 1915, The Treasury also forwarded £59 9s 7d grant for science equipment. The Public Trustee notified payment to the Board's account of £2981 9s, behuj second instalment £3fioo (less

solicitor's fee £l7 10s, and fee of £1 Is for obtaining Order-in-Council), on account of £BOOO loan. Mr. Thos. Buchanan, scrrctary of the North Taranaki Dairy Co., waited on the Hoard in support of i;n application by the Dairy Co.. and asked consent to tlie sub-lease of one rood of the Board's property from Mrs. M. (I. Jonas. They also asked for an easement over the stream.—Granted, subject to approval of solicitor. Mr. A. J. Tloneyfield, Onaero, was "ranted permission to remove gravel from the pit at Onaero, provided lie gets