SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1920, Page 5

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

THE TARANAKI ASSOCIATION, A meeting of the executive of the Taranaki School Committees' Association was' held at New Plymouth last night. Present: The Rev. F. Martin (presiding), J.. Downs (801 l Block), W. K. Morris (Oakum), A. N. Davis (Frankley), W. Pinkcy (Stratford), I. Bridger (Eltham), R. J. Deare, J. Bennett, J. Garcia (West End), and W. G. Re id (secretary). In the absence of the president (Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P.), the Rev. Martin was voted to the chair. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P., R. Sage, and F. J. Hodges. On the motion of Messrs. Pinkey and Downs, it was resolved that the 1921 annual general meeting be held in Stratford. The question of amending the constitution wap deferred until a date that would enable the president to be present. o Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., who was ejected President of the New Zealand School Committees' Association, was to have delivered an address on the business transacted at the Dominion Conference, but his Parliamentary duties prevented his attendance. 'Mr. P. J. H. White, the recently-appointed chairman of the Education Board, was present, and was congratulated on his appointment by the chairman, who also congratulated Mr. R. J. Deare on his election to the Board. Mr. White briefly outlined the business of the conference, and, in the course of his remarks, said that members of the Board all worked in the interests of the whole district and avoided parochialism. It would, however, be an advantage if committees would first of all get into touch wifti their own particular ward member. He favored an interchange of teachers between districts, and did not thipk it right that appointments in any one district should be open only to teachers of that district. The Taranaki Board, he said, intended .in all future infant schools that were built, to introduce modern methods, somewhat on the lines of the Central Infant Schol, at Wanganui, a visit to which proved most interesting. He said the Board had discussed the questioa of stocking school books, but there were difficulties, particularly in the matter of postage to small schools, which would add to the cost. It was a moirt «point whether the parent or the taxpayer should pay for the books, but at present there were so many demands for education that this was a matter which might be left where it was for the present. Ho favored the establishment of hostels centrally situated for the benefit of pupils who had to be brought into central places to attend high schools, as it was impossible to have secondary schools in country districts. It was necessary to have hostels at Hawera, Stratford and New Plymouth. , He did not favor Central primary schools, as it was not desirable that children of tender years should be taken away irom home influence and sent to boarding schools. The secondary schools to-day did not provide as many children as it was hoped would soon be taking advantage of them., He stressed the necessity of making teaching the best profession in the Dominion. At present the highest salary for ft primary school in their district was £550. This was not sufficient to induce ambitious young men to join the profession, and he thought there should be salaries in special cases up to at least £IOOO per annum. At the conclusion, a hearty vote of thaoka .was accorded Mr. White,