STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in the Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatative, Mr. W. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with him. THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. MONTHLY MEETING. April 6. The monthly meeting of the Stratford School Committee was held last night. Present: Mrs. Phillips, Messrs. W. Pinhey, D. M. Clarke, W. Abraham, H. Sanderson, and E. G. Foster. In the absence of Mr. J. W. Boon Mr. Clarke was voted to the chair. The headmaster reported that the attendance for the week ending March 31 was a record, being 617.4, or 95.5 per cent., the roll number being 646. . The percentage for the quarter was approximately 91. The average for the quarter for the primary school was a record. “The weather seems to be a determining factor, especially in the preparatory department,” continued the report, “but if the children are provided with good waterproof coats and strong boots there should be no need for them to miss attendances on account of showery weather, except in the case of children living a long distance -from the school. I should like to take this opportunity of pointing out that where i children are kept from school tne onus is upon the parents in all cases to apply for exemption to the headmaster. Even a doctor’s certificate does not free a person from prosecution under the Attendance Act unless the exemption certificate is obtained. The doctor's certificate is a ground for exemption, but does not take the place of the legal form. An attendance of 601 is I required to secure an extra assistant. (Games have been organised under efficient supervision—football in four grades for boys and hockey and basket ball for the girls. Special practices have been arranged twice a week. The games are to all intents and purposes compulsory, except where special reasons exist for exemption.. I should like to pay a tribute to the ladies and gentlemen responsible for the games in the past.”

Tooth-Brush Drill. In his monthly report the headmaster raised the question of instituting tooth-brush drill in the public school. Mr. Furrie said he was at one time opposed to the institution of toothbrush drill, but he was now converted. He was sure it made a great difference to the children’s health. The chairman asked if it was not an indignity to a sixth standard child to enforce tooth-brush drill. Mr. Furrie: No. Mr. Pinhey said it had done a great deal of good in the infant department, and he thought it a good idea to institute it among the upper classes. A motion to the effect that toothbrush drill be inaugurated for the whole school was carried. General. Mr. Pinhey asked when a board of governors was going to be elected for the Technical High School. It was pointed out that only the Education Council could authorise the election of a board, and this body met only halfyearly. The secretary of the Education Board wrote confirming the appointment of Mr. E. Hinton as itinerant woodwork instructor, Miss E. Young as itinerant cookery insructress. and Mt. F. Pollard as caretaker of the Stratford Technical High School. Mr. Pinhey reported having interviewed the Minister of Education, with delegates from the Chamber of Commerce, in reference to having the old afternoon train service reinstated. Mr. Pinhey said the deputation received a sympathetic hearing, and were hopeful of having the train reinstated. In the course of his report, the headmaster entered a protest against the withdrawal of capitation for swimming and life-saving, and the meeting decided to send the protest to the School Committees’ Association to be dealt with. On the motion of Mr. Pinhey it was decided to grant an extra quarter-hour for the luncheon adjournment, the closing hour being put back a corresponding time. The headmaster reported that this would permit of 80 more pupils going home to lunch. It was decided to send a letter to the Retailers’ Association expressing appreciation of their fine effort in raising £BO5 for the improvement of the school grounds. Messrs. Boon, Pinhey and Sanderson were appointed a sub-committee to go into the matter of preparing plans, etc., for the improvement of the Technical School grounds. Mr. Arness. director of the Technical High School, reported that the attendance at that school averaged 171 for the month, the roll number being 167. GENERAL ITEMS Two hundred and thirty-five plaints were entered in the Stratford Magistrate’s Court during the quarter ending March 31. The total amount sued for was £5752 Us 7d. £4359 3s Id being recovered. The fees totalled £319 10s. There were six appearances under criminal arrest and 37 on judgment summonses. Fines totalling £8 5s were imposed for breaches of loca.- bodies by-laws. A statement of the receipts and expenditure within the Stratford borough to March 31, shows the following figures. estimated amounts being given in parentheses: Total expenditure, £lB,162 (£18.020); total expenditure. £19,435 ( €18.390). The expenditure on electric light was £8305, the estimate bein<i for £6500. The receipts from the same department were £6686, w'hile the estimated receipts were £7OOO. Country subscribers not receiving their Daily News regularly are asked to immediately notify our circulation manager, care Mr. W. H. Humphrey, Stratford. Complaints will receive prompt attention. A number of good second-hand typewriters, in first-class condition, for sale; Remington. Smith Premier, Monarch, Yost. Barlock. Royal. Remington Junior and Oliver. Prices from £7 7s to £25. Type-writer supplies and repairs.—W. H. Humphrey, Daily Newt office, Strat-