School Committee.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 251, 4 September 1902, Page 3

School Committee.

The monthly meeting of the above committee was held last evening, there being present Messrs Hamilton (chair), Mathias, Colville, Dean, Butcher, Smith and Jackson.

The minutes of last meeting were read and, after a minor addition, were confirmed. The Head-master’s report showed the roll number to be 471 and the average attendance 433; also that the rifles for the cadet corps had arrived. Some discussion ensued ra uniforms, and it was decided that the parents be circularised with a view to seeing how many would provide uniforms for their own boys, which would consist ef black knickers and blue jersey. Messrs Nicol and Smith were appointed visitors for the month. The passing of accounts concluded the ordinary business. A deputation of strawberry growers waited on the Committee, requesting them to alter the date of the examination so that the school could be closed earlier to allow them to have the use of the children for the picking, which commenced about the middle of December. The deputation wanted to know if the Committee would give the children permission to stay away from school when the'picking commenced. Mr Hamilton said the Committee were bound by law to make the children attend school, and had no disci etion in tna matter.

The deputation stated that they would be satisfied if the school closed a week earlier, and explained that some of the growers’ ground was higher than others, and the fruit ripened earlieron high ground, Mr Mathias : Then altering the closing of the school would only effect some of the growers. Mr Pitcaithly said a« fat as he was concerned he would have to be at the school for teaching purposes no matter whtn the school closed. He had been working all the year with pupils studying for outside exams., and if the school were closed earlier it would cut the pupils adrift, and his work would go for nothing. Mr Hamilton; Then all that could be done was to fix a date for closing suitable for most parties. The deputation then retired. The Committee decided to leave the matter in the hands of Mr Hamilton to look into the matter and report to next meeting.