THE LE BON'S SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 507, 24 May 1881, Page 2

THE LE BON'S SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

c To the Editor, 3 SiR, —I should like to know the extent j of the rights and privileges of school committees in general, and the Le Bon's Bay School Committee in particular. ' A friend of mine was at one of the numerous meetings they have had lately. Tenders had been called for firewood to be " in at a certain place and time, about four s hours before the committee met. One j tender was sent in, in time, and only one ; but when the meeting had commenced— whether before or after this tender waß ! opened does not transpire—a free and enlightened member produces another tender | from his pocket, brought by him en behalf \ of a man working for him, and a shilling or so less than that of the only recognisable tender, and of course had his accepted. I noticed the said committeeman and his " Jemmy Ducks" cross-cutting the firewood on the Government road two or three days after. What is thef Arguseyed Road Board about ? But I forgot the Board acts in the double capacity, and one of its members is chairman of the School Committee. Another little matter. Tenders were called for the school,cleaning. Two tenders w ; ere received,'and both rejected as informal, because they did not say what work theyhvould do for the money.;. Is it customary for contractors to send a copy of the specification with a .tender ?: Thoie was a special meeting.called to get the teacher sacked for thrashing one child and keeping another in half an hour. The committee broke up at 10 p.in;, but the teacher was not sacked. The committee did rather a cool thing the other night; they elected tfremselves Library Committee. Two only belonged to the Library, and were therefore at the time ineligible; but that did not stop them. The teacher also was there, and ought to have known better : but it seems not. There were six persons present at an unadvertised annual meeting, only three being members; hut for all that five of those six clever men elected themselves a committee. Now, the Ordinance distinctly says that at an annual meeting eight mem bers shall form a quorum ; that a presi-" dent, secretary, treasurer, and four members shall be elected. But what hive we here? A chairman and four members, only two of whom were eligible for election, and not one of whom has any standing, as the election was illegal. They are enforcing most absurd resolutions and occupying the Library for their committee i meetings, and as they have had four this < month on Saturday nights—the only nights ] they allow it to be open—the public benefit greatly by it. The Library, I hear also, is ' in a most neglected state. —1 am, etc., ( PATTERN CQMMITTEP.. <■ 23rd May, 1881. f