HOUSEHOLDERS' MEETINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1919, Page 5

HOUSEHOLDERS' MEETINGS.

CENTRAL SCHOOL. There was an attendance of about 15 householders at the meeting of the Central School district. Mr. P. J. H. White was roted to the chair. The report presented by the chairman of the outgoing committee (Mr. S. G, gmith, M.P.), stated that at the beginning of the year the roll number was 649 (Central, Courtenay Street and Vogeltown), and by the end of the year was 691. The average attendance was 569, of an average roll number of 639. Attention was called to the need for the rebuilding of the schools, whioh for a long period have been regarded as unsuitable, insanitary and worn-out. A general demand was made for the provision of modern facilities.

Reference was made to changes in the staff, the erection of a school at Vogeltown, and the success achieved in sports aud pastimes. In life-saving, a Central team won the shield. In the schools competitions elocutionary and musical, various scholars were successful. Mention was made of improvements to the school grounds during the year, the erection of a shelter shed at Vogeltown and an additional shelter shed at the infant school. A rubble wall was erected on the Gover Street frontage, and was a distinct improvemept, There was a necessity for taking immediate steps to effect improvements on the plot of land that has recently been attached to the playing area at Courtenay Street. During the year the Ministers' Association, had conducted Bible-reading after school hours.

The report concluded with an expression of thanks to those who had assisted the committee during the year, especially to the Education Board and staff. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £33 5s sd.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted on the motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Dobby. On the motion of the chairman, a vote of thanks was passed to the outgoing committee.

On the motion of Mr. Smith, a very hearty vote of thanks and congratulation was accorded to the Btaff of the school. He referred with satisfaction to the splendid report on the school made by the inspectors last > year. Mr. H. A. Stratford acknowledged the vote on behalf of the teachers. He eulogised the work of those who had controlled the school before him. He then expressed a hope that if it was found that new ideas were being introduced in the interests of the efficiency of the school, the parents would. support the staff in the carrying out of those ideas. A vote of thanks was also passed to the Ministers' Association for conducting the Scripture lessons. A report was submitted by the secretary (Mr. F. Coleman) of the arrangements necessary in connection with the provision of hot cocoa with their lunch for the children, involving an estimated expenditure at the two schools of £l6l 2s (id. After consideration the proposals were approved by the householders. The new committee elected was as follows: Messrs. S. 6. Smith, M.P., G. H. Dolby, F. Coleman, W. Girling, T. Hardgraves, W. P. Nicoll, F. Reed, C. Luidop and W. S. Cobham.

A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the business.

At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr. Smith was re-elected chairman, and Mr. Coleman secretary. The monthly meeting was fixed for the fourth Monday in each month.

WEST END. There was an attendance of about 200 at the West End Gymnasium. Mr. J. B. Ray was chairman." .The MBUDitUs'i tt£«t aUudjd. to oa,

-'9 drawback caused by the epidemic and, ja the closing of the school for threil. M months, yet in spite of this the tor's report was very favorable. Msn<, Jjj tion was made of the additional accom,*) *p modation provided to relieve the gestion in some of the clasi rooms, alsoi 'M of the competitions in which the school''.;|| participated with the Central and Fitl-'-ij-'i. Roy, and of the school winning the chaK'i|| lenge shield at the South Taranaki (Showjs| as well as £4 12s in prise money. playground had in part been eoncreUd,'. || and satisfaction expressed at the pnw«t ; Sj pect of having the school removed to *'-m suitable site at Wcstown, it being that the incoming committee would preset j'-| forward this great improvement Be-«-i| gret was expressed at losing the *srjioM' ;j lj| of Mrs. Dowling after 19 yean Wowfc-Pj which was highly eulogised and a, hoa»-'J|| expressed for her future happiness. Thi'w M only trouble experienced by the <wm*'-£| mittee was the receipt of a claiht,by tk»j."f|| ex-caretaker, Mr. G. E. Blanchard, tip*M £23 for wrongful dismissal, but tte>"|| claim had been abandoned. The sta#'M| hud worked admirably. The sheet showed a credit of £3B 14s 6dL ";wj Mr. J. B. Boy Bpoke approvingly ot-]m the report. He very much regretted th*' W resignation of Mrs. Dowling, who 'W'-'tJ felt sure would carry with her the wishes .of the householders. Seconded, '.',4 by Mr. Morey and carried. '' ■, v. Upon the names of the eighteen csndi*„Vi| dates being posted, Mr. Cooker suggested "?% that the names of the old committee &•■ V* indicated. ,/j Mr. Blanchard contended /that this- £$ would be an indication as to how to vote.' :'^ Mr. Garcia produced a circular girißt . -J the names of those who were in fawV" of keeping the school on its present sltei '; £l and urging that the names be brought l'-j to the meeting for reference. ■.; ■'s Mr' A. H. Carter disassociated himself Vl from the circular. ,„i During further discussion, it was ! Ji pointed out that, there were evidently 'M two factions, one favoring the being removed to the new site at Tofcfcpit' ,' 3 and the other favoring its remaining : 'V'l where it was. '-'/,'• Mr. Smart said that all the old' com- V'S mittee favored its removal. ■ • ~,'S Mr. Nash said that he wished i> to'~> be distinctly understood that Labor had *? not nominated any candidate, Labor -y was keenly interested in education, and .'<s favored the Tukapa site. When in Mew ' Plymouth recently, Mr. Eraser, It?, had ' 'j inspected both sites, and considered it '.*'* would be scandalous if the school was - vj allowed to remain on the .present in* ! '',n sanitary site while such a Withy and •. -}j ideal site as Tukapa was available. Bad M "The Worker" known all the facts Ju'.-tg doubted whether the office would have * v ;< printed the circular. \'-- The election resulted in the return of '.<■ the old committee, as follows:—W. W. ,f Thomson ISO, \~K. Smart ISI, J, 8. B. '3 Medley 127/ "arris 123, E. Jf, Ballot « 123, W. I.Tgunnitt 122, J. A. Hawker M 119, J. Sanders 113, and J. Brokaßshire 'A 100 (elected); 0. E. Blanchard 60, i. ti-A B. Hoskin 54, C. D. Arnold 64, A. 0. ■•'* Murphy SO, A. H. Carter 48, A. Edge- ' - combe 48, H. Kenny 47, G. parrntt 46, ■' •„ P. Millan 44. - ;'...:

Votes of thanks were accorded th» staff, the retiring committee, and the. .■' J chairman. - ] At the subaequent meeting Mr. W. W. '-j Thomson -was Te-elected chairman and • ■ 1 Mr. W. J. Bennett secretary ■■\"- JTrZEOJ, -~ ■ ';*% Mr. W. Reid, chairman of the Sehool J" Committee, presided at the meeting of' ,';< householders at Fitnroy last erftnjkg.'. |f The annual report congratulated Mr,,';',;! Johnston and his staff on the efflckttgrfjj'' of the school. Misses E. Gibson and Rawlinson were congratulated on bating. '*£! secured full D certificates. The attend*-§ ances had been very good. fiafcrtnda '\A was made to a new room being addes \l to the school, and to the proepttt of '■>■, securing an additional Here for tk%., : \] playground. Tne balance sheet showwt ',} receipts £75 4s 6 and expenditure £7l * 14s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £3 'i Da 7d. i'i

In moving the adoption of the wport\. ,\ and balance sheet, the chairman *»i, * nounced his retirement from the earn- $ mittee. , 't'fh The only point raised In the I»JiOTt'was the £25 asked for the section. It. was generally conceded that the taller | had igivfcn the committee very good : g value for their money, and all suhwrlp- -jj tions raised for the purpose would Cfirjf' a subsidy, so there would be no dlffi- ,&j culty in raising the amount. ■': T The headmaster suggested th#t the-| incoming committee Bhould appoint » 1 sub-committee to confer with Mm m**l garding certain work, fences, etc. i'.'i^ Mr. Reid then vacated the chair, returning thanks for Mr. JobniM's'y appreciative remarks. ? : ■ The committee for the next year ares ! "i Messrs J. Aroa, R. C. Clemow, P. Vr>h Duckworth, N. H. Griffiths, 0. G. Grow, : ( J C. Hoskin, and R. L. Parkin. "A