WORK UNDER DIFFICULTIES

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 12, 15 January 1924, Page 6

WORK UNDER DIFFICULTIES

NATIVE SCHOOL TEACHERS. PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. '•'The year just closed has been one of .constant watchfulness and anxiety," stated the president of the Native School Teachers' Association (Mr. C. T. McFarlane), at the annual conference, opened at the V.M.C.A. buildings this morning. He explained that at the beginning of the year there were many, changes in the personnel of the teaching staffs of the service and in addition the circumstances made it impossible for him to recruit the ranks from new appointees. Consequently the membership of 128 had fallen by 29 in comparison with that of two years ago. A noteworthy fact was that the greatest loss had occurred among the assistant teachers. The president thanked members for the very cordial way in which they worked together during the year. He was quite conscious that he had not done nearly so much as he would like to have done, but there were mitigating circumstances. It had to be remembered that this year was started with a debt of £154. Material for Te Waka Maori had to be purchased and there was the worry and labour of finding out the financial position of the association. The indebtedness has been reduced to £67, the whole of the material used this year being paid for.- and there was sufficient in sight, if members would just realise their responsibilities, to put the association once -more upon its feet. "Then, and not till then, will we be able to move forward and make the association of real use to the native school teachers," he concluded.