HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1916, Page 8

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. . The ordinary meeting of the New Plymouth High School Board was held last night, when there were present; Messrs. IX Hutclien (chairman), H. Trimble, J. S. Fox, F. G. Hirst, R. W. D. Robertson, E. P. Webster', f. W. Atkinson. Mr. S. G. Smith apologised for his non-attendance. , APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. The Secretary of Education notified the appointment of Messrs. D. Hutclien and S. G. Smith to the Board. Mr. Atkinson made some strong com[ments on the appointment of Mr. S. G. Smith by the Government in place of Mr. J. 13. Wilson, who had been nominated by the Board to fill the vacancy. He was not making his remarks in any spirit of antagonism towards Mr. Smith, who, he was certain, would make a good member, as he had had considerable experience in educational matters, in which he took a lot of interest. If however, he was asked to nominate the most suitable man in Taranaki he would have nominated Mr. J. E. Wilson; firstly because, as an old boy of the school, he had always taken a great interest in it; secondly, he was a man with a lot of public experience; thirdly, lie was the father of a young family, and on that account would take a personal interest in the school for many years; fourthly, because he possessed the confidence of the townspeople and of the people of the whole of Taranaki, a fact amply dmonstrated by ;he. position he held in patriotic matters. Personally, lie felt that a very grave slight had been placed on Mr. Wilson bv the Government, and ho felt it all the more because it had been caused through an action of his (the speaker's). He moved that the secretary be instructed to write to the Minister of Education and ask him his reasons for refusing to give effect to the Board's recommendation. Mr. J. S. Fox, in seconding, said that he also felt very strongly on the matter, not that he had any feelings against Mr. Smith. He only hoped as Mr. Smith liad been elected' by the Government that he would try and get the Board ordinary treatment from the Govern'ment, which the Board had never had since he had sat on'it. This motion was carried unanimously. THE GIRLS' SCHOOL Miss Hodges, Principal of the Girls' School', reported that in the senior department one new pupil was enrolled, and in the preparatory department, one pupil had left, making totals of 79 and 19 respectively. FINANCE. The Director, of Education notified that permission had been granted to the Board to borrow an additional £3OOO from the Public Trustee. In connection with the grant of £2OOO, about which there lias been considerable correspondence with the Government, a telegram was received from the Premier stating that he would endeavour to sec the Minister of Education, and arrive at a definite understanding as soon as he could manage it. GENERAL. The chairman stated that the Boy's School had oeen closed for a fortnight, but that arrangements had been made to carry on some of the classes. The Borough Council notified it had agreed to terminate the Board's lease of the electric • sub-stsftion as .. from Match ISth. The chairman, secretary, Messrs. Webster, Hirst and Robertson were appointed a committee, with power to act, in connection with a filling at the new Girls' School and the diverting of storm water at the Boys' School. Mr. J. S. Fox gave notice to move that tenders be called for supplies to the boarding schools, each commencing next term. The Board then went into committee.