The Feilding Star THURSDAY, APRIL 26 1888. School Committee

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 114, 26 April 1888, Page 2

The Feilding Star THURSDAY, APRIL 26 1888. School Committee

♦ . The failure of the householders of the Feilding School District to meet and elect a School Committee on Monday last, may be attributed to a variety of causes. The nominal reason for. the non-attendance of was the inclemency of the weather, .but we are quite safe in saying the roal reason was— -indifference. Had people taken any real interest in the matter a shower of rain would not have prevented them* walking a few hundred yards. It cannot be denied that membership confers, neither honor nor responsibility on the holders of the position, while the dinnuution of revenue now placed at their disposal to carry on with, has increased -their difficulties in proportion. .For all that, we are, of this opinion : as the duties have to be performed, we hold that heads of families are guilty of gross negiigeuce and carelessness of the best interests of their children when they shirk such duties, however small they may appear to them. The only sacrifice expected from them is the devotion of a few hours time during their period of office. Unless they . bestir themselves they may be deprived altogether of the privilege of electing a Committee from among themselves. We find in the Education Act, 1877, clause 66, the following : — " If in any case the electors in any school district shall from any cause whatever fail to elect a Committee upon the annual day of meeting, it ..shall;: be. lawful .for the Boaid of the district in which such school district is if it see fit to fix another day for the election of a Com-, mittee for"Buch district, and the same notice of such meeting shall be given, and the same proceedings taken thereat as are prescribed by*|lie Act." Clause 67 provides:-, '• If afl|y such last mentioned meeting the householders neglect or ref useto elect a Committee, the Board' may ? appoint a Commissioner . . . who' shall exercise all the powers and duties conferred^ on Committees . . v and ,a salary to be paid to the Commissioner shall be fixed, b 4 the Board, to be paid: out of any mfifieys available for distribution in the^fchool district for or io which sucltf^Cominissioner is appointed." Such being the case we do think householders should be careful how, they lose any of their privileges by their own laziness. |f the funds of the school are low now;, the salary of a Commissioner would absorb them altogether. Our readers kno<v quite well that if more real interest were displayed in tins election of , and as to who wore electe<f bnv-fehe School Committees, by heads of families- aj»d householders, the position would be held in greater esteem, while the ■ duties would be performed with greater willingness by those entrusted with 4hem. Another thing ; if School Committees were the representatives — as they ought to , be-r-of every one holding the privilege to vote, their recommendations to the Education Board would be treated with greater respect than they are: when a Committee really only represents a score of people, at the outside, as has been the case too often on this part of the coast.