The Feilding Star. TUESDAY,MAY 20 ,1884. School Committees

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 59, 20 May 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY,MAY 20 ,1884. School Committees

-♦ — : — Mr Stewakd, M.H.R., has prepared a Bill to effect an alteration in the election of School Committees by the abolition of the cumulative vote, and for. effecting other reforms. This kiU is a recast of two former ones which were rejected by the Legislative Council, and has been forwarded to the several School Committees, together with "a copy of a petition in favor of the measure. Mr Btewaet does not * to- absolutely abolish the cumulative An option is given to the School Committees in the matter (says the Post) by its being provided that if any committee shall by a majority of its members decide that the cumulative

vote shall be exercised at the next election, then notice must be given of such resolution fourteen days before the election, and then the cumulative vote may be used. Such an option given to the committee appears to us by no means an improvement in the Bill as originally introduced. If the cumulative vote i.s objectionable, let it be abolished, it it is not, then let it be retained, but the system of election should be uniform throughout the colony, and no committee should have the power of determining how its successors should be elected. The original Bill provided that all elections should be held on the 30th of April in each year, and that all candidates should be nominated not later than tho 15th April, and a. list ofthem.be> • displayed on the school door. Mr 5 Steward has altered this by giving to any Committee having less than 200 children- in average attendance, the power of dispensing with this previous nomination bf candidates leaving themto%e* proposed' : atf at "pre'senV-at the ' householders! meeting. 'This,' Kite the forrii£r option,;, we do, not deem. an. iinprp jeipopij. ishe remaining grpvivisions 5 off thia BiU. seem similar to those -of its predecessors. They make thb r edu6atii6nal' financial year concur-; . -«• ■•• • ■ i rent .with the Colonial . Government financial period, provide for, tha retire-ment-of oiilyta- portion ofeachCom-inittee-every' year, ' instead of all the members going out of office, and also make provision for filling up vacancies and the vacation of seats for non-at-tendance. Perhaps after all the most important provision in tho Bill is the new definition which it is proposed to give to the word- v householder." Mr Steward proposes to make it mean and include every male and female person of the ago of 21 years and upwards who is the resident owner, lessee, or tenant of any dwelling within the school district, and every lodger who has resided in such district for the space of not less than three months, and every parent or guardian who is liable to maintain or has the actual custody of any child attending the school. The Bill in its present form is not likely to bo approved by many of the School Committees, who will prefer the present Act, which they haye fche advantage of understanding.