The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, FEB. 1, 1878.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 186, 1 February 1878, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, FEB. 1, 1878.

We give in this issue numerous reports of the result of the meetings of householders held on Monday evening last, for the election of School Committees in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act passed during* last session of Assembly. A great amount of interest has been taken in the matter by the public generally throughout this and the surrounding districts, and a perusal of the names of the gentlemen elected, will show that as a rule, wise counsels have prevailed at these meetings. Perhaps the most important matter requiring early attention on the part of these Committees, is the election of members of the Education Board. As we believe some misunderstanding exists in certain quarters, regarding this subject, we may briefly indicate what is provided for by the Act. Clause 13 reads : — (1 . ) Between the first and the thirty -first days of January, one thousand eight hundred attd seventy-eight, each, of the Committees in each district shall transmit to the Board the names of two persons qualified to be members of the Board, their written consent being first obtained, and the Boai'd shall thereupon publicly notify the names of such persons, and in such notice shall also state the day on which the election of the Board shall be held, and shall also transmit to each Committee the names of such per->on3. The day of electioa shall be some day not latter tlian the fifteenth of March. (2.) On or before tho last' day of February in the same year, the Committee in each district shall send to the Secretary of the Board a list in writing, setting forth the full names bf not more than nine of the persons whose names have been publicly notified as aforesaid. (3. ) The Secretary shall carefully keep all such lists, and on the day fixed hy the Board shall proceed to ascertain what persons, so nominated, have the greatest number of votes ; and the nine persons who have the greatest number of votes shall be the members of the Board. By clause 18 the. Governor is empowered to postpone for a period hot exceeding- two months, all or any first

elections of Education Boards, and should he exercise suoh power, then all proceedings incident to any such postponed election are declared to be postponed for a like period. From a notice in the Gazette, we observe His lency has postponed the first elections within the provincial district of Otago ior one month, or till the fifteenth day ot April. Hence the nominations are 'dho postponed for the same period, and may therefore be made at any time during* the month of February. It is well, we think, that this additional time has been given, as it will allow members of Committees to get informed, and to consult as to the proper course they ought to pursue in the matter. In these days the whole policy of the Country is a centralising one, and unless the Country Committees be upor: their guard and use effective precautions, they may find the whole interest and influence of the Education Board to be concentrated in Dunedin. It may be said that such has been very nearly the case hitherto, so far as the personnel of the Board was concerned, and that no evidence of partiality towards 'Dunedin, or neglect of the country districts, was ever manifested. It must be borne in mind, however, fbat formerly tbe Education Board had simply 10 recommend that certain buildings be erected or payments made; it rested with the late Provincial Council to vote, and the Executive Council to find the funds to carry out such recommendations. It must be admitted that this was done upon a very liberal scale. Under the new order of thing's, we fear the experience will be somewhat different and that the funds at the disposal of the Board will be found very far from adequate to meet the requirements of the Education district. If, as is not at all likely to te 'the result, the majority of the members of the Board will be Dunedin men, they will constantly have the, wants of the City before their eyes, and be subject to all the influence that can be brought to bear upon them to have these wants supplied. " Out of sight, out of mind "is an old proverb, and it is just possible its truth may be verified in the experience of tbe country school districts, should Dnnedin men have a preponderance of power in the Education Board. We trust only gentlemen whose honesty and impartiality are beyond question, will be placed upon the Board, but it would only be a wise precaution for country Committees to endeavour to secure the election of gentlemen whose interests and sympathies are also entirely with 'the districts they represent. To do this it is evident that united action will be necessary, and it might be well that steps were taken to bring about an understanding amongst the various Committees, say within the Counties of Clutha, - Bruce, and Tuapeka, as to -what men would be likely to attend most faithfully to their interests. By this means, and through the facilities afforded by ehe cumulative system of voting now in force, they could secure the return ofa sufficient number of such men to the Board. We merely make the suggestion, but not without hope that some action will be taken in the direction indicated, before the various Committees are called upon to record their votes.