EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1917, Page 8

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING, The Taranaki Education Board mot yesterday. Present: Messrs Robert Masters (chairman), H. Trimble. S. G. Smith, and C. A. Wilkinson, 31.P., CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman (Mr. R. Masters), reported as follows: A matter tliaf- should receive the attention of the Board is the question of the grants made for new buildings noi; being sufficient to cover the cost of the buildings erected, and in seme cases where tenders are in excess of the grants, the school buildings are being help up indefinitely. This is due largely to the fact that the time lapsing between that when the estimates are made "for lie building, and when the grant is eventually made is so great, in some instances 12 or IS months, the east of material has advanced to such an extent that it is utterly impossible to erect buildings the original esimate. We have therefore either to pay the extra cost out of some other fund, which I doubt if we are legally entitled to, or delay the building, as I said previously, indefinitely. Again the grant made by the Department to the general fund is the same as in the prewar period and with the gradual rise in all accessories used it is only a matter of time when the Board will find difficulty in carrying out ifs functions on a sound financial basis. Representations should be made to the Department in this connection, requesting that grants made should be increased sufficiently to meet the financial requiremnts of the Board under present conditions. Committee work.—To provide for the more efficient working of the Board's : business, I would suggest that members take into consideration the advisability I of setting up permanent committees to • undertake reporting on various phases [ of the Board's work. appointment : of, say, two members of the Board in , each of the following committees, agrii culture, technical, financial, and teaclii era* appointments, would, I feel sure, | distribute the committee worK of tlie | Board more evenly and have a tenfiesicy !' in the direction of making members minutely acquainted with the work of those particular departments.

Annual holidays of Board's- office staff. —As the Board has no definite system of annual holidays for the ofiice stall' it seems to me that we' should decide on one definite system. The principle of granting holidays annually is sound and in the interests not only of the staff but also of the Board, and I would therefore recommend that the annual leave be granted as follows: Employees who have been in the service for 10 years and over one month, and the remainder three weeks annually on full pay. The period at which the annual leave shall be taken to be arranged by the secretary and chairman. Referring to his report, Mr Masters said the Board's finances m connection with grants were in an unsatisfactory position. For instance, two tenders had been received for the Finnerty Road school. These were respectively £3513 10s and £4OO, while the gram, was only £325. Out of that ffle Board was expected to find the joinery and fentrog. The cost, lie estimated, would be £SO in excess of the grant. Mr Masters said this would mean a depletion of the maintenance grant. As regards the general fund, he pointed out that many of the materials used in the ofiice had increased over 100 per cent. The grants were not greater than (hey were hi prewar times. Mr Masters advocated the appointment of sub-committees to facilitate the work of the Board. It was stated that th/ Finnerty Road school grant was made contingent on another acre of land being given for the school site. The settlers had given ono acre, and it was thought that the Department should purchase the other. The question of accepting the tender and of meeting the settlers in connection with the matter was left in the hands of the chairman and Mr Trimble. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Smith, seconded bv, Mr Wilkinson, "That the Department's attention be drawn to the increased cost of labor and material between the date of the Board's application and that of the grant being mad:> in the case of several of the latter grants.'* The report was adopted.

OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer, Mr. C. 11. Moore, reported:—Stanley: This new school was completed and is now occupied by the teachers and pupils. Okato: The remodelling of this school was also completed ready to re-open after the holidays. Technical Engineering Building: This work is proceeding steadily towards a finish. General fittings will be carried on as machines anft apparatu> are placed in position. Filzroy: The out-offices and septic tank at Fitzrov re also brought to completion during the holidays. Mangatoki: As instructed, I went into the matter of repairing the dam at this place and have arranged to have the work attended to; the committee to pay half the cost. Whilst at the school mv attention wn.~. drawn to the need of more light and ventilation in the boys' workshop. I would recommend that three small single sashes be provided, the boys or committee to do the necessary labor in fixing same. The following small and sundry repair work was attended to. Extra tanks, erected at Waihi and Omata, removal of platforms at Waitara, concreting inside of screens at Tataraimaka (the , committee finding shingle), and the removal of one outbuilding at Lower Mangorei. School furniture: A considerable amount of school furniture, including the re.-desk-ing of one room at Wnltara, has been completed. Stratford: A start was mado on the new porches at the Stratford infant department and the work is well on. Eltham: We have also made a start on repalf and sundry other work authorised at this school. We propose to make this a centre to work a number of surrounding schools. I propose to re-now the whole of the desks in .0113

room to start, with, as the present desk should be discarded. The head master is very anxious to have the desk top hinged and Jboxcd in. I would suggest that this be done on condition the committee find the extra, cost amounting to 5s to (Is each. Toko: .As instructed I • have visited this school and went into the matter of dividing the present infant room and erecting a porch outside. I think if this was carried out it would greatly improve the working of the infant department and therefore respectfully recommend that the matter be attended to. The cost will be not more than .-CaO. General: I have prepared plans and specifications for a new school at Finnerty Road anil tenders have been called for same. We have secured a driver f<jr the horse and van and these are at present ill the Stratford and Klfham districts. At present I am in the distiet taken over from the Auckland Board, to make a report as instructed and carry out sundry work that has been authorised. A special report will he submitted later dealing with these matters. The report was received.

THE AUCKLAND SCHOOLS. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer (Mr C'. H. Moore), submitted a special report on the schools taken over from (he Auckland Education Board as follows: Considering the distance on poor roads and practical isolation for a considerable part of the year, the schools are in better condition on the whole than oneywould expect to find them. The lavatory basins, drainage and oittfoflices, with one or two exceptions, are on very good lines. The parents are anxious to co-operate with the Board, and are fully a4ive to the advantages pertaining to the general improvements in connection with school matters. The first school visited (belonging to those recently taken over) was Tatu. Outside school timbers in sound condition, requires painting, out-buildings in good order. Inside—ln good order, painting can well wait. What repair work is necessary can lie attended to when the new residence is being erected. Most of the timber is on the site for the proposed residence. The matter of a residence at that place, when compared with several other places, has certain features that may with advantage receive consideration when the Board is in the district. Ohura.—This school is both inside and' out in very good order and condition, except perhaps the painting outside. This has not stood too well. The matter of a residence is one for favorable consideration. Turoto P,oad South.—This is only a slab school papered inside. Tokirijiia —This is a small school, general condition sound, requir.'s painting, nut-buildings in j/>od order. Application for addition lias been made to the Department. Most of the timber is on the silc, and repairs needed will be attended to whilst the additions are being carried out. While at this school my attention was drawn to the need of improvements to the school grounds. These are matters that will be placed before the Board in detail. Otunui. —This is a small school erected by the settlers, size 24 by ISft. The lighting requires improvement and the building is not painted. The matters in connection with a porch shelter shed and* fencing will be placed before the Board. [ have gone into these various requests on the spot, and can recommend that they receive favorable consideration. The nettlcrs are willing to help and have ilreadv done a considerable amount of work, Nilio Nilio.—Th'li school is in very fair order and condition. The condition of out-buildings generally is good with (lie exception of small repairs noted. Matiere.—This school is not occupied; nt present the school is oping lipid in the hall. A contract lias becujet for addi- , lions and a general alUraiioii in the position of outbuildings will be carried [Hit at the same tiue. The residence [ requires painting and repairs. t Mahii'ikau. —This is one of the so- ! tailed movable schools. The school and out-buildings are in good order and .lon- , dilinn. The grounds require fencing along the front. J Okaluikura. —This school was inspectI »d a few months 'aek. The outside is rovered with iron. Botli inside and oui are in good order and condition. r Otangiwai.—The whole of the outside of school requires painting; othcrwisi there are very little repairs needed t( the building. The shelter shed is ver\ low, and requires moving back from tin boundary line, The residence 'requires - painting outside and several small re s pairs attended to. e Ongarue.—This is one of the latesi - schools built, and is in very good orde - and condition. The residence is not ii . keeping with the grade of school so fa: : us si;:e goes; otherwise it in fair or - der and condition excepting small re e pairs that require attention. > The report was adopted.

GENERAL. The following appointments were made:—Awakino (sole teacher), Miss Drader; Pukeho (sole teacher), Miss K. L. King: Tututawa (sole teacher) Mr N. S. White; Kent, (sole teacher) Miss A. McCarthy; Matau (sole assistant) no applicants; Mokau (sole teacher) Miss Woodruffe; Nilio Nilio (sole teacher) Miss I. O. Olson; Waiau (sole, teacher) Miss C. E. Steele; Waitara (second assistant) Miss Prentice, (fourth and fifth assistants) Misses Harrison and James; Eltham v D.H.S. (fifth assistant) Miss McC'ormaek; Ha\Vera D.H.S. (eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth assistants) Mrs Anderson, Misses Straek, Satori, Mander, Gaustad and Foy. The following temporary appointments were made-:—Miss E. Q. Foy, assistant; I-lawera; Miss Jones, sole teacher, Kahui; Miss Gaustad, sole teacher, Awakino; Miss K. Taylor, sole teacher, Pikoj Mrs F. Alien, sole teacher, Kent; Mrs J. Olsen, sole teacher, Albert; Mr Mcllroy, bead teacher, Central. Leave of absence was granted as follows:—Mr C. 11. Stephenson, probationer, Tariki, to sit for exam.; Mrs Anderson, assistant, I-lawera, ill health; Mr W. Sheat, pupil teacher, llawera, ill health; Mr O, J, Ilowart-h, assistant,