GRANTS TO STUDENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1940, Page 7

GRANTS TO STUDENTS

INTERESTING DISCUSSION TRUST LANDS TRUST POLICY. LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Master ton Trust Lands Trust was held las. night, the chairman (Mr H. P. Hugo) presiding. There wore also present | Messrs A. Owen Jones. J. MacFarlane Laing. R. Krahagen. H. H. Daniell. C. E. Grey. R. Page. J. H. Handyside and E. G. Eton. Accounts for £36 7s 9d were passed for payment. A request from the Masterton Plunket Society for a grant and another from the headmaster of the Lansdowne School for a grant of £l5 to the Hospital School for crippled children were deferred until the estimates meeting. The Town Clerk (Mi' G. T. O'Hara Smith) advised that the question of scaling Macara Street would receiveconsideration in this year's estimates. A letter was received from the Macara Street tenants advising that they could not accept the offer of the Trustees to supply trees for a live fence. Mr J. W. T. Jones, secretary of the Masterton Head Teachers Association, wrote requesting the trust to receive a deputation (Messrs Coddington, Far-, veil and Jones) to place before the Trustees the following resolutions passed at a meeting of the Association held on April 3: "That the Association recommends that the grants made to school committees be as liberal as possible".: "That the trust be asked to make'an annual grant of £5O towards the upkeep of the combined schools library"; "That the matter of scholarship grants be revised with the idea of making the grants more efficacious in the furthering of education"; "That the grant for stationery, etc. be increased"; "That the Trust be asked to make a grant of £2O towards the cost of developing physical education"; "That the Trust be asked to purchase a modern film sound projector for use by the primary schools within the Small Farms' Area."

It was explained by Mr Owen Jones that the deputation was arranged to enable the teachers to put forward proposals showing the best way the Trust could assist them. "The free school books are a wash-out." stated Mi' Jones, "as the money is not sufficient.’’ On the motion of Mr Laing, seconded by Mr Eton, it was decided that the deputation be invited to wait on the Trust at the next meeting. The recommendation of the education committee that grants to students from the Scholarship fund totalling £247 10s was agreed to after considerable discussion. The statement that the committee had no recommendation to make in the case of two of the applications caused a long discussion on the Trust's policy. On the casting vote of the chairman the committee's decision was accepted. "I think that the committee has taken a grave step." stated Mr Eton. “For many years the trust has been trying to avoid it. It has opened up a very vexed question. If parents think they ought to apply for grants, we should . not hesitate to make the grants.” added Mr Eton. "Suppose parents did not consult us?" observed Mr Laing. Mr Eton stated that he would vote against the recommendation as he considered that notice of motion should have been given to the Trust that the committee proposed to turn down certain applications.

Mr krahagen. in supporting Mr Eton stated that it was the right of every child in the Small Farms Area to apply for an educational grant. He stated that he did not think it was right to cut out some and make grants te others.

Mr Handyside stated that he did not see why they should distinguish between individuals, as the scholarship grants took priority. "I am very surprised at Mr Jones's remarks.” stated Mr Daniell, referring to Mr Jones's earlier statement (as chairman of the education committee) in connection with the presentation of the committee's recommendations. Mr Daniell contended that a year or sc ago when the question came up of the minimum amount earned by student. 1 : before a grant would be made (£130), Mr Jones had stated that the whole consideration should be for the pupil. Mr Jones: "That is not correct. Only the first part is right." Mr Laing: "The education committee is being unnecessarily castigated, as the committee had only made recommendations. The matter has been left in the hands of the Trustees."

Mr Grey stated that the question was to what extent the money could be drawn from the general account to supplement the scholarship account. He considered that the wealth of the parents should be taken into consideration. and that the education committee was entitled to make some distinction when the grants exceeded the amount in the scholarship account. Mr Jones: "Mr Daniell’s memory if very poor indeed. No question had been raised that sole consideration would be taken of the child.’ He stated that the recommendation was passed by the Trust that the question of the financial standing of the parent must be taken into consideration. Mt Jones pointed out that it was stated throughout the Trust Act "To assis: ....“ Mr Jones stated that nothin.', personal was involved in the matter He contended that the Trust was no' a charitable aid board. Mr Page stated that the fault seemed to be in the framing of the application. It was decided after further discussion to have the application forms altered to bring the parents into the ap plication.

MAURICEVILLE PICTURES PROGRAMME FOR SATURDAY. Gladys Swarthout's role in "Ambush." which will be screened at Mauriceville on Saturday evening, calls for a special dramatic ellort. Picture patrons will remember her brilliance in “Rose of the Rancho" and her glorious voice. In "Ambush" she takes the part of a girl trapped by bandits and who fights her way to freedom and love. Lloyd Nolan is cast opposite her. and Ernest Truex portrays the master mind. Polly Moran is also in ihc cast. She will be remembered as Marie Dressier's team-male. This feature is topped with an excellent supporting programme of newsreels, sportlights, cartoon and musical items.