GREENSTREET SCHOOL MATTERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1898, 21 July 1888, Page 2

GREENSTREET SCHOOL MATTERS.

A meeting of householders in the Ashburton Porks district was held at the Greenstreet schoolroom last evening, to consider the aotion of the Committee in reference to the master. There was a large attendance, and Mr Donald Oliver was voted to the ohair.

The Chairman briefly opened the meeting, stating that he was not acquainted with the matters they were there to consider, beyond what he had seen in the papers. Mr Anderson, as the convener of the meeting, said that he had called it so that they might consider sohool matters, and it would then be for them to judge, after hearing Mr Hale, whether that gentleman was in the right, and whether he had the confidence of the people of the distriot. He (Mr Anderßon) desired to see whether he had the support of the householders, beoause if not, there was no use in standing out by himself against the rest of the Committee. Mr Hale then addressed the meeting. He expressed regret at the unpleasant oiroumstances under whioh he then addressed them. ■ It was only eleven months ago, on the occasion of the distribution of school prizeß, that the members of the Committee expressed their gratification at tho progress ] made by the eoho'ars, and praised and lauded him till he almost felt too big for his boots. A few months after that tbe Committee unanimously passed a vote of thanks to him. What a ohange had now taken plaoe ; they Were ready to ohase him out of the distriot. On the night of the ra-eleotion of the Committee, whioh was constituted the same as previously, with the exception of the substitution of Mr Ohuroh for MrAnnett, the latter gentleman having left the distriot, a meeting was held. The members had then j no oomplaint to make against him, and their relations as Committee and. master were perfectly cordial. The evening before the famous meeting on June 23rd, he called on the Chairman at his house, and the Chairman was never more friendly towards him, but a few days after that meeting he got the letter asking him to resign, on the ground that as he desired to obtain another situation, he oould not have that interest in the sohool, whioh the Committee desired. He sent a reply, whioh doubtless they all had seen in the papers, declining to resign as the Committee desired. [Mr Hale read both tbe Committee's letter and bis own.] The effeot of hiß reply was that the Committee determined to give him three months' notice, and he was given to understand that if he did not resign the Committee would. He did not intend to resign unless the Board notified him to do so, and in that oase he would ask for an enquiry to be held. He had seen Mr Good, the seoonder of the motion, and in reply to him, Mr Good told bim that he had nothiog against him, but said that as the Committee and he did not agree a ohange would be for the better. Mr Knox also admitted he had nothing against him, except that he oould not have an interest in the school if he desired to leave it. If that was Mr Knox's idea on the subject he would not care to have him in his employ. No such consideration would influence him in his duty, and even should the faot of hiß desiring to obtain another appointment make him inclined to negleot his work, it was his interest — a matter of pounds, shillings, and pence to him— that he should maintain the efficiency of the sohool and obtain good reports. Mr Rippengale had informed bim that Mr Sutherland had stated that he had nothing against him, and this narrowed down the Committee to Mr John Corbett and Mr Church. If Mr Ohuroh was present he would like to bear what he had against him. After a pause Mr Hale said that he would oall on Mr John Corbett to state if he had anything agaigsfc him. Mr Corbett said that the Committee had oome there to listen. All he had to say would be put before a proper meeting of the Committee and would go to the Board. Mr Hale said that he bad now put the meeting in possession of the facts of the oase. It seemed it was an unpardonable crime for him to desire to shift from Greenstreet, though perhaps if he had asked the gracious permission of the Committee it would be all right. If one of the Committee wanted to go away, he did not call a meeting of his neighbors and ask their permission, and surely he (Mr Hale) had the same rights as they although he was only a schoolmaster. He had done his duty to the best of his ability, and the Inspectors' reports which he had with him would show that his work was well done, He asked no favor or indulgence from the meeting; all that he wanted was simple justice. Mr Argyle wanted to know how it was that when they got a good schoolmaster tbey always got rid of him. The first good master they had they discharged ; they said that he drank. He did hot know whether it was so or not, but he (Mr Argyle) did not see what difference that made so long as the man did his work and got the ohildren on. Then they got a bad one, and although he got notice time after time from the Board to shift he still kept on. Now they had another good master, who was bringingon the children, and it was wanted to give him up. He believed in hooping the master they had got. The Chairman asked if Mr Argyle would move a resolution. After ecme irregular dlsoussion Mr John Walker handed up a paper containing four motions. Tha Chairman was in some doubt as to how they should be put, and Mr John Corbett asked " the man who wrote them to read them." Ultimately it was deoided to put the motions to the meeting separately. The first was: M That this'meeting, having hoard Mr Hale an£ explanation from the Committee, consider their action most unjustifiable, tyrannioal, and totally uncalled for."

Mr Jas. Corbett seconded, Mr John Corbett said that he thought that Mr Argyle was on the Sohool Committee at the time the master to whom he referred went away, and now he wanted to know what he got the " Back " for. He thought that if Mr Argyle looked baok he would find he was on the Committee at the time. Mr Argyle said that he had not asked what that master was dismissed for, nor was he on tb» Committee at that time. A householder asked how the distriot was defined. The Chairman said he was not aware. The motion was then put to the vote. Mr John Corbett said there were some voting who had no right to do so. He instanced Mr Rippengale, who, he said lived in the Mount Somers district Mr Rippengale said that he was a house, holder and had a perfeot right to vote. Thirteen voted for the motion and none against. Mr Walker's second motion was then put as follows— "That as the householders present have no confidence in the majority of the Committee tbey all be asked to resign at onoe."

Mr John Corbett: Perhaps the proposer will say something. Someone said that it was not neoessary for the proposer to speak to the motion. Mr Corbett asked if Mr Walker's nacoe was at the bottom of the* paper. I The Chairman: No. Mr gorbett ':' Perhaps Mr Walker will put it there. Mr Walker said that tha resolutions were written dowa plain enough. He attached his name to the paper on whioh were written the resolutions. Mr Hyde seoonded tho motion then before the meeting. The Chairman : Will you give any reasons Mr Hyde. Mr Hyde : I havo nothing to say. Mr Corbett asked if the motion oalled upon the whole of tho Committee to resign. Tho Chairman said that it did. He read it\ again. A gome argument arose as to whether members of tho Committee should vote the motion. The general opiqjon seemed to be that they should not, and the meuabesa go. cordingly refrained from voting. The motion was carried.

The third motion, whioh was seconded by Mr Prisby, was as follows—" That tbe householders present, consisting of nearly all in tho distriot, have full oonfidenoe in Mr Halo as teaoher." This was also carried, thirteen voting for and none against. The fourth motion was : " That the above resolutions be sent to the Board of Eduoatipn and, if neoessary, embodied in a memorial to the Board, asking it to take no action as to the removal of Mr Hale, or, if the Board deem necessary, an enquiry be held." Mr Jas. Corjbett seconds^. On a show of hands being oalled for Mr John Corbett voted for the motjoh. ' • ' I $he Chairman did not think Mr Corbett should yotfi. Mr Corbett thought that he was quite justified in voting for it, beoause ho would like to pee the Batter go before tbe Bond,

The Chairman took it that the spirit of the \ meeting was that the motions should be settled \ by persons outside the Committee. )

Mr Corbett said that he was a householder as well aa a committeeman, and, as a householder, he would like the matter to go before the Board. Therefore he thought he had a perfeot right to vote for the motion.

A househo'der asked why then did not Mr Corbett vote for the other resolutions. JJ Mr Corbett said that he could have done so if he had liked.

The Chairman said that the matter bad nothing to do with him, but he thought Mr Corbett as a Committee man should not vote.

Mr Corbett said the motion was neither for nor against the Committee. He asked for it to be read again.

The motion was read. Mr Dorbett said that he thought an enquiry ought to be held. It would be better for the Committee and the householders.

The Chairman said that the Committee would be affeoted by the enquiry. Mr Corbett said that whatever the Board decided the Committee would abide by it. The jnotion waß carried. The" Chairman asked Mr Hah if he knew of anything else to bring before the meeting. Mr Hale did not know of anything elee except the letter he had received from the Committee. If it was a fault that he tried to obtain another sohool it was a fault possessed by all the teaohers in New Zealand. If a farmer saw a ohance of obtaining a piece of better ground than he was oooupying he took' it, and so it was with a schoolmaster when he had a ohanoe of getting a better sohool. He did not see, because he tried to better himself why that sbould be accounted a crime.

Mr Sutherland said that the Committee had decided to send the whole thing to the Board. The faot of the master applying for another sohool was not the only grievance. There were several others. The Committee did not wi3h to detain the meeting that night but would send the whole faots to the Board, whioh was the most satisfactory way of dealing with the matter.

Mr Hale Baid that to show that the only grievanoe was his applying for another sohool he would read the letter again, Mr Sutherland said that Mr Hale himself ought to know that that was not the only cause. Another reason was the discourtesy Mr Hale had shown to the Committee since the first day he came into the sohool. The Committee thought that ifc would be best to separate in a quiet way and not expose the master. ■•

Mr Hale : I exposed it myself"; I want exposure.

Mr B. Anderson addressed the meeting at Borne length. He expressed his pleasure at finding he had the support of the distriot in upholding the master. Alluding to the disoussion that had taken plaoe earlier in the evening in regard to the right of persons to vote, he said that he took a broad view of the matter, and thought that any person who had children attending a school should have a voice in the management of that school. He thought it rather out of plape for one gentle, man preßent to object to others voting when he was Btated to be out of the district himself, Mr John Corbett asked who was' referred to. 1 Mr Anderson replied that he meant Mr Corbett. Mr Corbett said that he had been looking over the Aots, and he could not find out the boundaries of the distriot. He would like to know them. Mr Anderson said he would riot disouss this question because he felt that any man who had children attending a sohool should have a voice in it, Mr Corbett said that perhaps the Chairman would, tell him whether he was in the distriot or notThe Chairman did not know. Mr Corbett said that he oould not find out himself. Mr Corbett then proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Press. They had taken a great interest in this affair, and had been to a lot of trouble in putting in a lot of rubbish. They must have been short of matter to fill up their space; The Chairman wbb sure Mr Corbett was wicng. Tho papers were good, and were well managed. j

Mr Corbett : I didn't say they -were not. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.