A SCHOOL ROW.

Evening Star, Issue 3478, 16 April 1874, Page 3

A SCHOOL ROW.

The good people of Palmerston are sorely exercised over the appointment of a master for their school. There were thirteen candidates, and at the election the names of candidates were reduped to tiu-ee—-Messrs Monro, Lipdflay, and M'BJ-yde—and of the nine com-mittee-men four voted for Mr M'Bryde, four for Mr Lindsay, and one for Mr Monro. The chairman of the School Committee gave his casting vote, in addition to his ordinary vote, in favor of Mr M'Bryde, thereby placing him at the head of the poll; whereas the member who voted for Mr Monro would, if that candidate’s name had been withdrawn after the first vote, have voted for Mr LindBay —who would then have polled five to Mr M'Bryde’s four. The minority protested against Mr M'Bryde’s appointment on the ground that he . was not the holder of a second class certificate, aud on the matter being referred to the Education Board, that body, on Mr Petrie, Inspector of Schools, examining the school, admitted Mr M‘Bryde as the holder of a second-class certificate, and held his election to be valid. A few days after receiving intimation of the action of the Board the School Committee again met and by fire votes to four, a supporter Mr M‘Bryde being absent, decided to hold a new election on an early date, as advised by the Board. To this the minority protested on the grounds Firstly, because

they considered Mr M ‘Bryde, of Macraes had been legally elected by the local Committee; secondly, because the General Board (m their opinion) confirmed the election on the condition that Mr M‘Bryde received his second class certificate from Mr Betrie upon the examination of the Macraes School, amd considered any further action illegal until it was shown that Mr M‘Bryde bad not secured a second class certificate The protest was submitted to the Board, and phe iollowing reply received per telegram on

the 4th inst. :—“Mr M‘Bryde now certificated teacher of second class. Question of validity of his election before being certificated, a legal point, with which the Board cannot interfere,” Writing yesterday, the ‘ Herald’ says ; -“We regret to learn that the selection of Mr M‘Bryde still continues to form a debateable point, aid that the opponents to his appointment, armed with

legal advice, have convened a public meeting co take place on Friday next, at 6 p.m. Meanwhile the new teacher has come from Macraes at the request of the Committee to commence his duties, but the opposition have stolen a march upon his supporters, and obtained possession of the key of the School, and refuse to give it up. Surely it is high time the public voice was raised and something done to put a stop to this unseemly party fight, unless a better understanding is come to than at present seems probable.— Since the above was in type, we have rea^eßram stating that the supporters of Mr M‘Bryde have secured possession of the School building by breaking the lock in the absence of the opposition. What the result will he we await with some curiosity.”