RAKAIA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1553, 15 July 1885, Page 2

RAKAIA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Tc th« Editor. Sib, —In anticipation of the report of the special meeung of the Rakaia School Committee reaching you so as to appear in this issue, I should thank you to grant me space to explain my motive in persistently opposing the master's reports that were handed to the Committee at the last two meetings. During the past month certain householders have spoken to me regarding some illness that was reported to he prevalent at the school, and one in particular stated that correspondence had been sent to the master on the subject I replied that I had heard of some rumor to that effect, but the matter would bo sure to be mentioned at the next Committee meeting, I at the time never doubting but that the master would refer to the question in his report. You can then fancy my surprise on hearing the report read that the only matters mentioned were the average attendance, school accommodation, and something about a football match. Your correspondent then reports as follows, which is strictly correct:—“ Mr Turner informed the Committee that he was aware that correspondence had passed between certain householders and the master in reference to an alleged illness amongst the children attending the school, and ex

pressed surprise that the matter was not mentioned in the report. He would move —“ That the same be referred back to the master, requesting him to report fully to the Committee, and forward copies of all correspondence in the matter referred to.’ The motion was co trried unanimously, and it was resolved t'o hold a special meeting on Monday next, to consider the reply. ” The italics are mine. 1 may here add that it was the Chairman who asked the Committee whether there should not be a

special meeting. At the meeting held last evening, the master’s reply was produced, where n he stated that there could not be any illness of importance among bis pupils, as the attendance was satisfactory, but as to the Committee’s request for him to produce any correspondence, that be declined to doashe looked upon anyletters that may have passed between any householders and himself as private correspondence ! I then moved that the report be again referred to the master, with a request that he would attach the “ private ” corrsspond* ence in question. The Chairman replied that the stand I was taking was absurd, as I ought to know that a certain danse ap pears in the Act giving the master power to send away any children that may be unclean or ill. I leave you. to consider whole action was the mwe htaord. A

member of the Committee asking for important documents to be produced, for which a special meeting was called, and which the the master did not deny haring received, or the Chairman of the Com* mittee, who, if ha did not know, ought to have known the particular clause of the Act and quoted it at the ordinary meeting on the 6th instant, If it had such an important bearing on the matter under discussion; and not, as I have previously stated, suggested a special meeting to consider the master’s reply? I fail to see how one argument has the slightest reference to the other. As I could see that my resolution as to again sending the report back to the master was to be received by an opposition who bad apparently had the whole matter argued to them individually prior to the meeting taking place, I asked leave to withdraw my resolution, and in its - stead one was passed in the words “ that the master’s report be accepted, and to the credit of of the mover, he declined to agree to the Chairman’s pressure to add the words “ as satisfactory. ” As the whole question has now resolved itself as to whether the master has a right to disclose correspondence relative to the school, we will take a fair business argument : Supposing a merchant should have a branch of his business in charge of a responsible agent, and in the ordinary course his representative receives a latter from a client, complaining or otherwise of the | conduct of the business, 1 wonder whether his employer would claim that he had a right to see such correspondence. I say unquestionably that he would ; and so the master of a school has no right to retain correspondence from the Committee; otherwise the earlier such bodies are extinct the better. The Ashburton residents have been very large dealers in School Committee squabbles, and I can readily understand your readers considering that oar Committee has very little determination or respect for their own opinions—i.e., the unanimous resolution of the Committee on the €th inst. I do uot anticipate any trouble in obtaining copies of the letters in question, and they will then probably be published. I am, eto.,_ _

Ohas. W. Turner. Rakaia, July 14, 1885. [Oat report of the last meeting of Rakaia School Committee appeared in jesterday’s issae— Ed G.]