EDUCATION BOARD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 229, 15 June 1918, Page 9

EDUCATION BOARD

ELECTION APPROACHING

RESIGNATION OF MR. W. ALLAN

fION. J. G. W. AITKEN WILL NOT SEEK

KE-IiLIiLIIUIN

One of • tho most important of local elections is that of tho Wellington Education Board, tho controlling authority of tho primary schools for tho whole of the Wellington education district (which includes Jlanawatu, AVairarapa, ami llarlborough). Tho board is constituted at present as follows:—Wellington City, 4 members; -Marlboi'ough, 2; Whirarapn, 2; Hutt Valley, 2; Manawatu, 2; making in all twelve members. In order to presorvo Rome sort of con.tinuity of policy, it wns decided, when the Act was lasf amended, that only half tJie members of the board should rotire each year, the members to so rotire to be drawn by lot, in the proportion of ♦ two from city members and one each from tho four districts.. At a recent meeting lots were drawn, when it wns decided tliat tho following membere should retire (but are eligible for re-electiou) :— City, Hon. J. G. W. Aitken and Mr. T. ForsythJ Harlborough, Mr. E. M'Calluni; Hutt, Mr. George London; Manawatu, , Mr. J. M'Callum; Wairarapa, Mr. A. W. Hogg. Of the city members who retire, Mr. I'orsyth intends to offer himself for reelection.,. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, , M.L.C., who has been a member of the board for eleven years and chairman for the past four years, -has Jwen approached to allow himself to bo venominated, but has given a deflnito reply in the negative, stating that ho lms 100 much on ,his hands at present, and must curtail his activities. Mr. Aitken has been a faithful worker in the field of educational advancement, and one of the most ablo chairmen the board has ever possessed. His loss to the board is a serious one. , ■Mr. William Allan, who has been a member of tho board for sixteen years, lias tendored his resignation this week. Kpeaking to a Dominion representative yesterday, Mr. Allan said that he had his hands very full at the present time, and after sixteen years he thought he had. "dono his bit" in that sphere of endeavour. .:. •• ■ • • • Mr..' Allan's resignation will loayo three fcity vacancies to be filled. Nominations 'iwiil close on Juno 20, and the election jrill take place on July 17. Besides Mr. I'orsyth, Mr. J. J.. Clark, of Kilbirnie, will bo a candidate. Mr. Clark lias done a great denl of committcD work, and has Ijeen aulivo in patriotic effort over since the war broko cut.