NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1919, Page 5

NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS BOARD.

TSewDirfiiram' meetJng;Cfijt!fa3fer'.?ly-1 iwraeh s%h held kst sought, when thore 'were present: Messrs & Eateheu H. TrimMe, X S.: ®ox, I& C. (Sadden*Ji "9k. XL fiobertaon,. P. W. Atkinson, A. Morton, .and SL <3* Sarith, M®. 1 Leave of E, Webster anil Dr» BootesEEBCTJON' aßwnnr*Tß!vr/>.yr,

The fet fajsme3s wa» lu& ejection.-of chairman. Mr- Hutchea, who fa** | beta chairman ioc the peat tiireu .but did not fieefe ra-ateuikjto, proposed I thecloction ofcMt. R. W- D. .Bobertson to j the position. Thoxo waa a>> doubt, he I said, that the nomination would meet with tl» approval of all the memb&s of i the board, who would recognise his I qualifications for the position, though. »the mover regretted that the affairs of the board wero not in a more satticd .condition than they were. Mr. It. C Sladden, In, seconding, eaid that all recognised tlio lU>lc manner in which Mr. Hutchen had carried out hia duties, to which, possdbly, ho had given uiore tune than ha could space. Ho. was pleased that Mr. liobertson had agreed to accept the position; as ho felt that he would do good service. The motion was unanimously earned. Mr. Kobertson, in acknowledging, said that he felt the appointment was an honor, and when he looked round the board he felt that hia only qualiiication was that ha had more time to gWe than the others- As long as he had the time to 9pare he was willing to give it. Mr. Hutchen's retirement from the chair was ft distinct loss to the board and the school, and he was pleased that he was remaining on the board, where hia experience would bo of great'value. His first duty as chairman would be to move a vote of appreciation of Mr. Htitchen's services as chairman.

Mr. Trimble, in seconding, said that Mr. Hutchen had iiecn chairman during % period of great difficult'-, and though not always agreeing with his way of dealing with those difficulties, he felt that the chairman had always acted in accordance with what he 'believed was right. Only those who had been chair, man of a similar board knew the demands made on tho chairman, who certainly deserved every credit. The motion was can ied.

i\'r. Hutchen, in thanking membets, Baid that during his three years aa chairman his relations with the board had been of a very happy nature, and he oould not sufficiently express his gratitude to members for the way in which they supported him. mile endeavoring to give a lead, lie had never endsavoreS to thrust his views on members. He also took the opportunity of thanking tho secretary for the assistance given during tho year, and he considered the appointment of Mr. Lash a very happy one. .QUESTION OF NOTICE. Mr- D. Hutchen moved that'the resolution requiring parents to give six weeks' notice of their intention to remove pupils, or, failing that, to be liable for payment of half the following terms fee, be rescinded. This was seconded by Mi'. S. G. Smith. Aiter some discussion, in which those who opposed the rescinding of the resolution argued that it was necessary that some notice should tie given, otherwise the principals of the schools would not, know what vacancies would be available for new boarders each term, the motion was lost.

GENERAL. The question of obtaining new desks ' for the Boys' School was referred to the chairman, Messrs Hutchen, and Smith and the Principal of the School. Messrs J. & Fox, Bnbertson, and Webster (the Tender Committee) reported that they had decided £o continue the present contract for groceries for six months. A tender for bread had been accepted at an advance of 2d per loaf, the |iice being lOd as compared with Bd. The contract for supply of meat had not been arranged. It was rosoived to grant tha secretary a fortnight's holiday annually, the time to be arranged with tho chairman. Mr. J S. Fox spoke in high terms of the work done % the secretary, and moved that the bwd allow its appreciation the secretary's salary. I Mr. iS. G. Smith, in seconding, stated that it waa qnite a pleasure to visit the office seeking information, which was always forthcoming. Other membefß spdke m similar-terms and it wae decided to increase the secretary s salary by £2s' per annum. Appreciative reference was made £o the courtesy and consideration shown by Mr. J. Blowman, custodian of the racecourse, during the occupancy of the appointments there aa a school It was Tesolved to vote Mr. Blewman £lO atid to forward him a letter of appreciation. In reply to a telegram from the board warding the delay in making a grant for ta£ laboratory fittings, & telograui ■was received from the !Departnt&nt at&tmpr that ownifj To the a&ence of Br. Anderson, Director of Education, a feplv could not be given that day. r - & O. Smith read coipfee of letter and telegram that ho had forwarded I 'to the Minister <m the eubfect. to £073 Is Hi