TEMUKA PUBLIC SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 345, 27 January 1881, Page 2

TEMUKA PUBLIC SCHOOL.

ANNUAL MEETING OF HOUSE-

HOLDERS,

• The annual meeting of householders in connection with the above took place in the School-house on Monday evening last. A larger number of householders than usual were present. Mr Wilson was voted to the chair-.

The Sectetary (Mr Bolton) read the minutes of the last Annual Meeting, which were duly confirmed. After which the report of the outgoing Committee was read

[The Secretary having failed to supply us with the Report, we regret being unable to publish it this issue.] After the Report had been read, the Chairman invited those present to make any remarks they wished on the Report, or to ask any questions, and he would be glad to answer them ; he hoped, to their satisfaction. He also stated that the committee took the earliest opportunity of reminding the Board of the agreement it had entered into, for an increase of the Incidental grant, and it was some time before the Board replied that they could not increase the sum last named by them. In the meantime the school had to be kept clean and the closets emplied. In short, the janitor’s work, even if they had been in a position to dismiss him, had to be done ; and, to pay him his salary, they bad to take a part of the £2O.

Mr Mendelson asked if the £2O shown by the report to have been granted by the Board for planting purposes had been misappropriated for incidental purposes.

The Chairman, said the Committee had entered into arrangements with>the Board re the employment of the janitor of the school, but the promises of the Board not having been carried out, and the Commute being indebted to the janitor for wages, they had no other resource but to expend a portion of that money. Mr Gray said Mr Mendelson was wrong in using the word “ misappropriated ’’ as anyone with ordinary intelligence would understand that such an engagement with the janitor could not be terminated at so short a notice ; and as the Steward of the Educational Reserves had leased for a term of years the land for which the £2O had been voted, no necessity had existed under those circumstances for keeping the money for that purpose, the Committee could fairly, use the money in the manner they had done.

Mr Mendelson said he considered the Committee, when they found themselves short of funds, should have thrown up the sponge, and allowed the Board to take over the management. Mr Gray thought it would have been a standing disgrace to the Committee to have retired in the manner indicated by Mr Mendelson, thereby throwing the management of the school in the hands of the Board. It was therefore much better to hold office considering that the election of a new Committee was so near.

Mr Hayhurst asked why there was nothing in the Report about the teachers. He would like to know if they had done their duty, or were capable of doing it. The Chairman, in reply, said the Inspector’s report, which all of them no doubt read, was the best answer he could give to the question. Mr McKay remarked that the Committees were ptterly useless, and the Boards only made tools of them for the purpose of carrying out trivial matters. Teachers also as a rule paid very little respect to the Committee's instructions, and he intended to move later on that the meeting do not elect a Committee for the ensuing year. He should do this, not in the way of a censure to the Committee, as he considered they had worked well and were deserving of thanks for their services for the benefit of the school.

After a long and desultary conversation, Mr McKay moved thanks of the meeting be given to the retiring Committee for their services during the past year, and for the very efficient manner they have discharged their duties.”

Seconded by Mr Wills and carried, unanimously. Mr McKay also moved—“ That a statement of liabilities and assests be appended to the report, and then referred to the Board of Education, and that this meeting decline to proceed with the election of a Committee for the year 1881, on account of the unsatisfactory state of affairs in relation with the South Canterbury Board of Education.”

Seconded by Mr Rutland. Mr Gray having replied to, Mr McKay’s statements, moved—“ That the meeting proceed to elect si Committee for the

sixteen votes against four fofcthe amendment. r: /'

A vote of thanks to the Chair terminated the meeting.