WELLINGTON SOUTH SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 948, 15 October 1910, Page 10

WELLINGTON SOUTH SCHOOL.

■ Sir,—l attended, the South ■ Wellington School Committee election on Monday, 3rd, and was surprised to hear tho spokesman of tho committee defend, as proper and "moral," the action of his committee in spending (in spite of 'the headmaster's protest) on a picnic the funds that the'headmaster had raised by special appeal to tho parents, to extend the school'library.. 'Further, he 'stated' that in this they had the approval of tho board, and that tho chairman had told them they were . quite right in tlioir action. If this is so, I can quite easily Understand that tho headmaster should say that if such principles were to obtain, that ho could not, under any circumstanccs whatovor, again ask parents for money, for to an ordinary man such methods aro intolerable. To my simplo miud. it amounts tlo obtaining money uuder false pretences; but the pity of it is that the

conimitteo did not obtain tho money themselves. If they had they might have been a little more particular about breaking faith with the subscribers. It may seem that this, is not a very serious matter after all, but to my mind it wants probing, for, if the Education Board approves of this sort of business, what aro wo to think of the board itself? As to the late committee, they do not matter, for the householders have their measure. —I am, etc., DISGUSTED. A.QUESTION FOR THE HEALTH ;, DEPARTMENT. | ' Sir,—Being a constant reader of your paper, • kindly allow mo space m your columns.' : I would like to ask what are our Health authorities doing with regard to a fever-bed near tho tram terminus, 'Aro Street, where a great Inany little children aro passing by every day to school? Why not send these places to whero there ,is no population ?—I am, etc., JOHN MOLLOY. [This letter-: .has been , delayed in publication.] ( THE METHODS OF A TRADES UNION , . SECRETARY. . _ Sir,—My. letter of September 17 has eaused the secretary of the Furniture Trades Union to seek shelter behind the president. ' This is disappointing, as hitherto he courted publicity. Those-wlio have read. the ■ reply framed on behalf of the union; which appeared, in your issue of the 26th; will have noticed that my statements have not been refuted, but an attempt has been made to make believe there is something behind : tlie scenes that.-would astonish the natives. Well, (hero is a simple statement. ' I i find that a member who holds a responsible'position in the union, runs a furniture business (which, he advertises in' the daily press). . ' That. he is ail employer of labour is freely admitted, as men in. the trade speak unreservedly 'of having worked for him—in . fact, I . have declined au offer of a job from him myself. There .is' no mystery about a matter of this kind, and no gunpowder plot that 'I am aware of behind the scenes; hut there is a secretary, who will not act. There .is also browbeating of members, ignoring of the.'rules and constitution, and squandering of the union funds. I happen to know as much abouttho affairs of the union as tike secretary,, and he knows that I can prove these statements ■by documentary evidence. I have protected against this kind of thing, and liave .Worked hard to put the union on an honourable footing, hut my efforts have, been upset, and dissension wilfully caused amongst the- members. Tou will now understand why the union officials were tfrath at not being consulted before you published my letter.—l am, etc., '■•■; A. E. ADAMS. Napier, September 30, 1910. A NEW PARTY. Sir,—The'leaders of the Prohibition Party huve now an excellent opportunity for forming an invincible political party. Let them bid for tlie support of the trade unionists, the Independent Labour, Party, the' Single-taxers, and the. 1 Socialists. These are live parties, earnestly desirous of-real reforms, and willing enough to sweep the liquor traffic out of the country. It-, should not be difficult to draft a programme that would bring these parties into lino with the Prohibition Party. ■A conference representative of all these ■parties'should, be > It.-is .idle -to look-\for-r adequate measures -from', tlio present. political parties, whose, representatives.'in' Parliament waste months 'of precious ;time session after session in-'jusfr-less talk.—l am, etc.,- v . PROHIBITION IST