TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1918, Page 7

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held yesterday. Mr. R. Masters (chairman) presided, and there were also present: Messrs H. Trimble, S. G. Smith, P. J. White, C. A. Wilkinson, M. P., H. H. Grayling, A. G. Knight, and H. J, Eaves.

ELECTION OP CHAIRMAN. Mr. Masters, who was re-elected chairman, expressed his pleasure at the continued confidence in himself. He hoped the cordial relations existing between the members of the board would continue. He then welcomed the new members to the board table an? congratulated Messrs H. Trimble and S. G. Smith on being re-elected unopposed for their respective wards. Mr. Wilkinson expressed the thanks of the members of the board to Mr. Masters for the services (he had rendered as chairman during the past two years, and for the great amount of time ho had given to the cause of education. He proceeded to discuss the question of representation on the board, and suggested that the urban area of New Plymouth, with two members, was overrepresented. Ho thought it not right that New Plymouth with one-sixth of the total population of the district, should have 25 per cent of the representation on the board. It meant that two members represented, five schools with a scholarship roll of 1265, while the two members representing a country district had more than double the number of schools and scholars. He thought the system should be amended to provide for a more reasonable amount of representation for the town districts. Mr. Smith, in expressing his appreciation of the services of Mr. Masters, said the general public was apt to forget the sacrifice a chairman of sucn a body was called upon to make, but the board members were not unmindful of that sacrifice. Referring to the point raised by Mr. Wilkinson, he said he had not the figures at hand, but he wai! certain it could be shown that the urban districts were entitled to their present representation. Mr White also joined in the congratulations to the chairman, and in welcoming the new members. Mi - . Eaves congratulated the chairman on his re-election to the chair, and also thanked the chairman for the welcome extended to new members. Messrs Knight and. (frayling also spoke in similar terms.

BOARD MEETING. It was resolved that the regular meetings of the board should be held en the second Wednesday hi each month a*; 10 a.m.

ELECTION OF COMMITTEES. The following standing committees were elected:— Manual and Technical—Messrs Trimble, Smith, White and Eaves. Finance —Messrs Wilkinson, White, Eaves and Grayling. Reserves—Messrs Grayling, Knight and Wilkinson.

Teachers' Selection—Messrs Smith, Trimble and Knight. The chairman is ex officio member of each committee.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to the following teachers:—Miss C. Dueker (Frankley), two weeks; Miss I. Edwards (Te Kiri), two weeks; Miss G. Moir ('Pmiiwhakau), two weeks; Miss C. M'Carty (Hillsborough), one veek; Miss J. Foster (Inglewood), two weeks; Miss D. Henderson (Kapuni), 1 month; Miss M. Foley (Ngaere), one month; Mrs. Young (Matau), one month. GENERAL. The action of the committees of the lOtakeho, Warca, and Normanby schools kn closing the schools on account of sickness was confirmed.

Authority was given for the erection of a fence round the teacher':! residence at Tatu. A letter was -received from the Marokopa Committee respecting tie mair.?r of erecting a new school. It was pointed out that the present building was not worth repairing, and that its situation, on the sandy bank of a river, was [very unsuitable.

The chairman pointed out that the board was only renting the building, and that be thought it the duty of the

committee to put the building into proper repair. The only other Alternative was to apply to the Department for a new school. It was decided to refer the matter to the board's overseer for a report.

It was decided that the work of the erection of the Normanby School be put in hand at the earliest possible date, and that the work be carried out under the supervision of the board's overseer, who should report on the plant nefisssary to carry on the work. The matter of waiting on the Normanby Town Board in reference to the question cf the closing of the road between the school site and the section on the npposite side of the road, which was also the board's property, was referred to Messrs Wilkinson and Eaves to report on.

The Taranaki School Committees' Association wrote enclosing recommendation arising out of the annual conference of the association. The question of school committees' accounts was referred to the chairman to report upon at next meeting. Regarding the suggestion that the board should provide smelter sheds at schools, it was pointed out that the board received no grants for the erection of shelter sheds. The board agreed in principle with the Department providing shelter sheds, and it was resolved to inform the association that the board considered the committees should be freed from any contributions to the erection Df shelter sheds, and that representations would in iuture be made to the Department to provide the necessary shelter shed for all schools. A remit suggesting that committees having charge of two or more school buildings should receive an additional grant to meet thei ncreased cost of cleaning separate buildings, was referred to the Finance Committee.

[ Mr. ,T, S. M'Kenzie, of the Hawera I District High School, wrote to the iboard, with respect to the request for |his resignation.—On the motion of 'Messrs Wilkinson and Smith, it was reI solved that unless Mr. M'Kenaie hands to tho board an unconditional apology, the'b oard cannot see its way clear to recede from its previous attitude. The matter of the conditions of the Rawhitiroa School site was left to Mr. Wil- ; kinson to report on. The tender of Mr. E. E. Burgess of £BO 12s per annum (without rates) for | the tenancy of 14 acres and dwelling jat Swansea Road, Stratford, was ac|cepted. | It was resolved that the chairman and Mr. Wilkinson be appointed to interview the Department with regard to the grant for the Okaiawa reinstatement and additions.

It was decided to hold a special meeting of the board on Wednesday, August 28.