EKETAHUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1940, Page 7

EKETAHUNA

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL MEETING OF COMMITTEE. (“Times-Age” Special.) .At liie monthlv meeting of the Eketahuna District High School Committee there were present Messrs FI. E. Greathead (in the chair), H. E. Rogers, J. Tolley, R. Payne, S. Daniel (secretary) and the headmaster, Mr A. Fordyce. An apology for absence was received from Mi' R. Gallagher. A vote of sympathy was passed with Mr Tolley in respect to the recent death of his father. This was jointly moved by Mr Greathead, on behalf of the committee, and Mr Fordyce, on behalf of the staff. Mr Tolley returned his thanks for the kind sympathy extended to him.

Accounts amounting to £lO 4s 7d were passed for payment. The secretary was instructed to write to the Education Board protesting against, the delay in having certain urgent requests attended to. A vote of congratulation was passed to the treasurer (Mr Daniel) for the excellent report received from the Board's auditor in connection with the school accounts. It was decided to renew affiliation with the Wellington School Committees’ and Educational Federation. The headmaster reported on several matters, including the discipline of the school. After hearing the headmaster's report, his action in endeavouring to create a better standard of discipline was endorsed. A tender for seven cords of firewood from Mr E. Goss was accepted.

The secretary was instructed to forward letters of thanks to Messrs M. W. Priest and Wah Lee for their generosity in connection with the school dance. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Miss N. Greathead for having supervised the dance.

WILLINGHAM SENTENCED ADMITTED TO PROBATION. At a sitting of the Supreme Court at Wellington yesterday, before Mr Justice Johnston. Gordon Willingham, insurance agent, aged 36, who had admitted arson, failure to account and theft, when charged at Eketahuna, was admitted to probation for 12 months. The plain facts, said his Honour, were that prisoner got into financial difficulties and used the funds of a lodge which employed him to get out of them. He was prepared to believe that drink had robbed him of selfdiscipline. The audit was to take place, and, knowing that his action would be discovered, he took the further step of burning the books. The probation officer made no recommendation and prisoner had no record of convictions. His Honour believed that prisoner was less likely to stray from the path of virtue if granted probation than if committed to prison. It was made a condition that prisoner take out a prohibition order. Mr A. J. Mazengarb had said that the defalcations amounted to £212. It was doubtful whether prisoner should have admitted arson, because he had intended to burn the records, and the building had not been seriously damaged. Personal Items. Mr and Mi’s A. G. Dawson. Masterton, returned home yesterday from a short visit to Atea. Messrs Ross Thomason (Atea) and Cyril Goss (Nireaha) are at present attending the Territorial camp at Waipukurau. Mrs J. P. Petersen, Atea, has returned from a visit to Wellington. Mrs P. Wilkin, Atea, is visiting Palmerston North. Mrs H. Goggin and Miss R. Mitchell, John Street, have returned from a visit to Featherston. Red Cross Dance. The local Red Cross Society will hold a dance in the Odd Fellows’ Hall tomorrow night, the proceeds from which will be in aid of the sick and wounded soldiers and sailors. Special arrangements have been made in connection with the music and supper and patrons are assured of an enjoyable time. The cause is a worthy one and deserves warm support of the residents of the town and district.