School Committees Combine

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7285, 12 October 1933, Page 8

School Committees Combine

ASSOCIATION PUT ON NEW TOOTING The efforts recently inaugurated to place the School Committees' Association on a satisfactory constitutional basis, seems on a fair way to success, if one can judge by the enthusiasm displayed at a largely attended meeting of delegates held in Palmerston North last evening. Tho following delegates were present:—Messrs W. E. Thomas and J. J. Hume (To Arakura), E. J. Bowator and A. Anderson (Sanson), J. H. Sumner and F. A. Dunstall (Ashliurst), iv. A. Prior and E. W. Barnett (Tokorangi), E. Christian and T. Miles (Stanway), H. A. Wildbore and A. W. Benscmann (Apiti), P. V. Burns, 11. \Y. Cox and W. E. Cooper (Hokowliitu), E. Persson, E. Andrews and W. E. Cutler (College Street), C. N. Rabone and I’. T. Vasey (Russell Street), W. H. Cadwallador (Central), A. Penkctk, L. A. Ilogg and G. K. Hollicr (West End), E. G. Murphy and A. S. C. Frauklyn (Milson), J. Callcson and E. M. Lemberg (Longburu), C. R. Luke, YV. L . Macpbcrson (Terrace End), A. Balrner, D. Watson (Pohangina), T. S. Manson, E. N. Rowe (Waitohi), E. Saxon (Rongotca), T. Ross, M. G. Hausen fNewbury), J. Old (Dunnolly), W. A. Salt, A. 11. Goodman, W. Ward (Awanuri), A. E. Shannon, W. D. Richardson (Tapaue), A. E. Prior (Tokorangi), J. Batchelar, J. Williamson (Waituna West), G. 11. Stuart, A. E. Harrowfield (Whakarongo). Mr. W. G. Black (Central) was elected to the chair.

The chairman said lie had sent out notices to 77 schools and it was satisfactory to note that 24 schools had sent delegates. A number had sent apologies owing to their committees not hav-

ing yet met to consider the matter. The Beaconsficld committee wrote stating that they did not feel inclined to poiri the association. Karewarewa committee advised that they were against the movement and were quite satisfied with the Education Board.

It was decided to form an association of school committees, to bo known as “The Manawatu and Oroua .School Committees' Association Incorporated. ’ ’

The. area was fixed as all that part of the Wanganui Education Board district south of the Rangitikei river and headquarters will be at Palmerston North.

The association is to be an enJieij non-party organisation whose objects shall be the consideration of all questions affecting or relating to the piimary schools of the district and of all matters pertaining to the operation and advancement of the national system ot education.

There was considerable discussion on tho point as to whether the association should be described as “non-party and “ non -political'' but it was decided to adopt tho former description, tho feeling being that it might be too difficult to determine exactly what was political and what was not in matteis pertaining to education. Meetings arc to be held at leastquarterly. Representation of Committees. It was decided that committees of five or seven members shall be entitled to send two delegates and committees of nino members, three delegates. When a delegate from any cause is unable to attend a meeting of the association, he (or she) may appoint another member of his (or her) committee to act as substitute, but due notice must be given the secretary of the association. No other proxies are to be allowed.

The committees will pay subscriptions as follow: —Committees of nine, one guinea; seven members or less, lUs Gd, due and payable immediately after the annual meeting in May. No committee will bo entitled to vote at subsequent meetings if its subscription is not paid by July 31. A number of other necessary administrative by-laws were adopted. Question of Groups. An important discussion ensued on the question as to whether the district should be divided into groups and each group provide a member for the executive.

Mr. Hollier pointed out that as the executive had to deal with matters ot an urgent nature, it might not be convenient, for members from a distance to attend in Palmerston North. He asked that the feeling of the meeting be secured on that point first —whether the country schools desired representation on the executive.

Mr. Batchelar said the schools in his district (Waituna) did not desire representation on the executive but they would like to see the area divided into groups with only a group representation to the quarterly meetings. Mr. Barnett urged country representation on the executive, pointing out that more schools would join up with the association if that was the procedure.

Mr. Eabonc pointed out that there were a number of country schools adjacent the city who could provide country representation on the executive.

Mr. Balmer said the distant schools would bo completely contented with such country representation. Mr. Miles stated that if the executive was composed of all Palmerston North members, it would be like a red ra«- to a bull with certain school committees not IS miles from Palmerston North.

rural areas into groups, was held over as it was recognised as a matter too big for decision at the moment. Further, there w'ero schools not represented at this meeting who might desire a voice in any decisions come to. The following were elected to office: President, Mr. W. G. Black (Central); vice-president, Mr. W. L. Macprerson (Terrace End); secretary-treasurer, Mr. W. E. Cooper (Hokowhitu); executive, Messrs F. G. Murphy (Milson), E. \V. Barnett (Tokorangi), C. N. Rabone (Russell Street), J. Batchelar (Waituna West) and W. A. Salt (Awahuri). The next meeting will be held on the third Wednesday in November. A vote of thanks was passed to the sub-committee that had spent hours of time preparing the draft of the constitution.

Mr. Cutler suggested au executive of one member from each city school and one member from each country group that might bo formed but he met with no support. Mr. Bowatcr said he had no faith in the groups. It was decided that the officers of tho association shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer and the foregoing with five other delegates, to form an executive, all of whom shall be elected at the annual meeting. The question of the division of the