EDUCATION BOARD ELECTION.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 78, 13 March 1883, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FEILDING STAB. Sir, — As the above election, will take place at the next monthly meeting of the Board, it will not be out of plac&for __c to make a few remarks as to the fitness and qualifications of the vkrio^s'candidates. To begin with, I notice tliaj;.t__tere are no less than three clerical .gentlemen amongst thp number, the Rev. Messrs Roots, Ross, and Doull. Now/I believe that the large majority of thinking max. will agree with me when! say that, it is both inexpedient and inconsistent on the part of tbe clergy to come forward fpr a purely secular institution,' such' as .the Board of Education. Inexpedient,' because the clergy as a rule (th<jug_[ ' lain glad fo say there are many brig|hi'excep. tions) have an unfortunate tendency towards narrow - mindedness, . . a ; ojiality which totally unfits them- f pr administering the affairs of an undenominational body; inconsistent, because they _trtf BUP|» posed to be wholly engaged I in 1 the Wo_K of the various parishes, which work must . necessarily be interfered with greafcly/by such important and responsib c duties' as those of a member of the Education Board. With regard to the chjrical 9an*] didates, lam sorry to say I. can *ee,h© special fitness in any of them. I a_l glad to see' that Bishop Hadfield' has requested the Rev. Mr Roots to retire; from the contest. If a persistent determination to achieve his purpose in spite of all hindrances entitles a man to success, then I acknowledge that Mr Doull cer» tainly deserves the much-coveted seat. With regard to Mr Ross independent of the above obi ections, the faot of his being the master of a private school is, in: to/ opinion, fatal. lam only surprised that Mr Ross does not see it in the same light. I now come to thelay candidates,. Mr Snelson has proved himself & usefulmember in the past, and should be certain of his re-eleotion. Mr Maoarthur, as Chairman of lhe founty 1 Council^ memberof the Highway Board. Mayor of Feilding, &c, has proved himself a thoroughly efficient and business-like representative, and should certainly! __» cure a seat. Mr Carson, we need hardly say, should be sure of success, and we : feel sure Wanganui could not Kay# 'put' forward a more useful or reliable l-an-diclate. With regaid to Mr Menzies/,' though mud. respected for his many personal good qualities, yet his inexperience should have caused him to hesitate before allowing himself to be nominated. . The northern counties should, o_ course, secure one of the four seats,, and should have a most useful representative in Mr Taplin.— lam, Ac, ' 4 ■. :.:■ .Sbsjk*,. „.