PRIMARY SCHOOL NEEDS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1926, Page 2

PRIMARY SCHOOL NEEDS

POSITION AT HAWERA SCHOOL. ABSENCE OF LIGHT & VENTILATION. The monthly meeting of the Hawera Main School committee was held last evening. Present: Messrs. J. W. Harding (chairman), A. S. Worrall, J. A. Dalgetfy, C. H. Brough, L. H. Carrel, Dr. Thomson and Mr. F. A. Bates, headmaster. The headmaster reported that the prevalence of epidemics had had a very seri'"Ous effect upon the school attendance and upon the staffing of the school again during October. He attached, for the committee’s perusal, two letters received on Thursday from the Taranaki Education Board practically intimating a further probable reduction in the teaching staff for next year beyond that which had been indicated at the last meeting. It, therefore, appeared that the school would be losing three fully qualified and very capable assistants and receiving in their place only one probationary assistant fresh from the training college. The headmaster also submitted graphs showing the average monthly roil number and attendance during the ‘present year and the average weekly roll number and attendance for the year. It would be noticed, continued the report, that there were very great variations in the average attendance as compared with the steady roll number. These variations were due , almost entirely to the three epidemics which occurred during the present year. Had these epidemics not happened the graphs showed quite clearly that the average attendance would have been as normal as it had been in June and had almost been in September and October. This serious position was due very largely, if not entirely, to the bad conditions of the class-rooms as regards ventilation, warmth and sunlight. Tawhiti School in the same town scarcely suffered from any of these epidemics, nor had Normanby School. These schools were well lighted and ventilated. Since October 18 there had been 150 children absent through infectious disease or through contact with i it. Mr. H. W. Jackson, of Tawhiti, ’ stated that they had had four absences in the same period. There was an absence of provision of sanitary accommodation for the children and the school would be further penalised if the teachers were taken from the staff when the roll number had steadily risen and was at the present actually higher than it had been for a year. At present there were ten classes with a roll number of 50 or more. The three assistants who were to be transferred were teaching 133 pupils who would have to be added to the already large numbers now taught by the rest of the staff. There were now classes of 57, 55, 59 and 67 as well as six other classes of 50 or more.

The report was adopted. "There seems to be only one course open to us, and that is to make an emphatic protest, per the Education Board, to the department,” said the chairman during th© discussion on the report. “It’s a disgraceful position,” said Dr. Thomson, “and we ought to take public action in the matter.”

“I think we should call a public indignation meeting,” said Mr. Haggett. Subsequently, it was decided to send a copy of the headmaster’s report with the graphs to each member of the Education Board requesting that the report be forwarded to the department, with a covering letter stating that the commitee regarded the position as a very serious one. Seeing that already there were ten classes with over 50 pupils in each any further reduction in the staff would cause a grave injustice to the school.

The chairman reported that the Taranaki Education Board had granted an extra £5 capitation to rhe school, to be pzid in December.

The matter of installing an electric vacuum cleaner in the school was deferred until a decision from the Taranaki Education Board on the subject was available, and m the meantime the committee appointed for the purpose was instructed to inspect a machine priced at £l2 12s. Mr. Dalgetty stated that the total receipts from the recent school ball were £64 16s 9d 4 the expenses being £lB 14s 4d, leaving a credit of £4<J 2s 5d in hand.

Dr. Thomson and Mr. Carrel were appointed the visiting committee for December.

DEMAND FOR STOCK. A QUIET WEEK. The past week has been a quiet one so far as stock sales are concerned, and very little business has been dune on account of the Egmont A. and P. show held on Wednesday and Thursday. The weather, too, has militated against big yardings of stock. There have, however, been one or two sales of ewes and lambs, the best prices returned being about 32s 6d. There have also been a few grade and pedigree bulls changing hands at fairly good prices. Fat stock is still selling well, but it is somewhat difficult to procure real good stu '. Fat sheep are still commanding good prices and, in fact, all sheep coming forward are selling quite well. Dairy lines are practically finished, ami very few dairy animals are being yarded. There is a good demand for store cattle which are fetching good prices. Pigs are also holding up well. A sale of the fat stock exhibited was held on the second day of the Egmont A. and P. show and good prices were realised as follows: A Hereford bullock sold at £lB and another at £l4. A heavy fat cow brought £l4 10s and 2 bullocks brought £ll 17s Gd each. Fat lambs sold at 24s 9d and 255, and wethers made up to 30s Gd. The purchasers were Messrs. Barraclough (Hawera) and Lamplough (Stratford •. At the Hawera sale, held by the Farmers'’ Co-op. yesterday there was a fair yarding of stock considering the fact that the show was held on Thursday, and fat stock sold very well, heavy bullocks making £l3 10s. There were not so many store cattle yarded, but what were submitted met with a good demand. Pigs, especially store pigs, sold very well. There were also a few yearling heifers yarded, and these sold well but did not command such goo’ prices as was the case a week or so ago. The works price for lamb has been

SJd up to the present, but it is learnt on good authority that this price will lie reduced to 8d as from Monday next. Fat ewes are bringing 3<l to 3-Jd "per lb. and wethers from 5d to s|d. Wool prices are considered satisfactory by farmers, but the most unseasonable weather, which has been so general of late, has interfered with shearing to a great extent. The wet weather has also affected dairying to some extent. Stock agents state that the next two months will be somewhat quiet as regards stock sales, but prophesy that in ■February there will be a revival of business when sheep come on to the market and farmers commence. to cull their herds.. COMPETITIONS AT THE SHOW. The results of tkeseveral weightguessing competitions held at the Egmont A. and P. show on Thursday are as follows: Pony, correct weight 2291 b, won by F. Williamson, Vogel Street, Hawera, who guessed the correct weight, Bullock, correct weight 7621 b. Winner, W. A. Guy, Matapu, with 761J1b. Miss Lucy Carroll, Wilson Street. Hawera, and T. Herbert. Morrissey Street, Hawera, both guessed 762 Jib, and. on a ballot being taken Miss Carroll came second and T. Herbert third. Sheep, correct weight 1641 b. Winner, Mr. E. L. Death. Hawera, with a guess of 163J1b. Miss D. Swadling, Morrissey Street, Hawera, also- guessed 163J11>, but the ballot placed her second. Four guessed 1651 b, and one 1031 b, and on a ballot being taken Mr. W. T. Hair was allotted third place, his guess being 1651 b.

HAWERA DEFENCE CLUB. The second shoot of the Hawera Defence Rifle Club in the 1926-27 season was held at Whareroa on Saturday. The competition was the first round of the President's Trophy, seven shots at 409, 500 and 600 yards. The following are the individual scores: —

THEFT OF MONEY. On Tuesday last eash to the extent of £l5 Iss and cheques to the value oi £63 2s 8d were missing from the premises of Messrs. J. B. Mae Ewan and Co. in High Street. The offences seem to have been committed by a person familiar with the premises, Sergeant Henry told a News representative yesterday. The hiding place for the key, under a file of papers, was apparently known, as well as the spot where the cash box was hidden. The police have also received advice that some eiocning is missing from a residence on 'Waihi Road. GENERAL ITEMS. About 25 cricket enthusiasts met in the Islington rooms last, evening to farewell Mr. Gerald Mahoney who leaves on transfer to Dunedin to-day. On behalf of the cricketers of Hawera Mr. B. McCarthy presented Mr. Mahoney with a handsome ornamental clock, and in doing so referred

to the interest taken in junior cricket by their guest and the valuable work he had done for cricket generally during hie residence in Hawera. Messrs. L. A. Taylor, J. Nielson, L. Hunt and Burnard also spoke of Mr. Mahoney’s work in the interests of ericket. Mr. Mahoney’ suitably responded.

The breaking of a steel plate that protects the springs on the leading bogey of an engine of the W.W. type was responsible for delaying one of the trains for about half an hour this morning at the station. The train was the usual mixed one that leaves for Wanganui after the mail train each morning, and at the time it was being shunted up the line. One end of the heavy steel plate dropped on the permanent way but the engine was stopped before any damage was done. The biggest problem was the removal of the plate, and before this was accomplished the use of a jack and several crowbars was necessary. This took time, but the driver and staff worked in a very businesslike and expeditious manner that reduced the delay t<OA minimum.

The new building for the Hawera branch of the Bank of Australasia is now completed. Mr. Lance Goodger had a narrow escape from being gored by a bull a few days ago. While yarding some stock on horseback a bull charged him and he just had time to clap spurs to his horse when the bull struck the animal, and his horn penetrated the horse's rump, making a wound several inches deep.

Two first offenders arrested for drunkenness by Constable Fleming on Thursday, the one, a Native, in Princes Street, and the other in Glover Road, appeared before Mr. L. A. Bone, J.P., at the Hawera Court yesterday, and the former was fined 5s and 2s fid eab hire, and the latter was convicted and discharged. The Farmers’ Co-op. conducted a sale of the buildings of the South Taranaki Building and Investment Company. Ltd., yesterday, and the office building was purchased by Mr. T. Hurrell for £3O. Mr. Geo. Roberts being the purchaser of a plant for the removal of buildings at £2 10s. Several sheds were offered, but no s»£iisfactory bids were received. The se«fon on the corner of Argyle Street and Glover Road was recently sold to the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., who intend building a bulk petrol depot there.

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