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Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1918, Page 4

HOUSEHOLDERS' MEETINGS. The annual meetings of householders for the election of school committees take place in the Taranaki education district on Monday evening. The growing interest taken 111 educational affairs, as well as the special needs that liave arisen in consequence of the war, should stimulate parents and householders to an active participation in these election meetings. While it is quite true that school committees are not vested with anything like the amount of power that they should possess as the direct representatives of the people, yet they elect the members of the Education Board, and are, therefore, in a position to influence its policy. Apart from this, if these meetings are welj attended, any resolutions passed possess the full weight of opinion in each district, and can be of much service in making known to the Government the needs which the community considers should be supplied. At the present time, more than has ever been the case, it is imperative that steps shall be taken to attract to this supremely important service the best teaching power possible, and to improve the conditions under which the work of education is carried on, as advocated by the council of the Teachers' Institute. It is, therefore, advisable that at all the householders' meetings a resolution should be passed somewhat as under: That this meeting of householders of the School District urges upon the National Government the necessity of making provision, without delay, for improvements and extensions in the education system of the Dominion. As New Plymouth, is now an urban area the nomination of candidates for the committees :in this area has already taken place, but in all the other parts of the education district nominations can be taken at the householders' meetings. Under the circumstances it is* extremely desirable that the best members procurable should be elected on the committees, and for that reason the attendance at the Monday meetings should be asj large as possible.