The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, AUGUSS 1, 1889. School Committee Accounts

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 20, 1 August 1889, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, AUGUSS 1, 1889. School Committee Accounts

One of the most sensible things the Wanganui Education Board has proposed to do for some time is that of appointing an auditor to inspect the accounts of the School Committees. At the last meeting of the Board, Mr Bridge brought up the subject by directing atteation to improper items which at times appeared iv Committee accounts. He referred particularly to expenditure in swings, prizes, &c, which were not allowed by the regulations. Mr Sansok opposed the motion, which fact we look upon as a most substantial proof of its excellence. Ultimately a notice of motion was given to the effect that in future the Board will appoint one auditor to iuspect the accounts of each district. The proposition is almost certain to he adopted, although it bears so much internal evidence of good sense that it will, no douM, meet considerable opposition from some of the members of the Board. Wo uotitjo that it was hinted by Mr Bridge the present Secretary will probably be suggested to the Board — assuming the resolution to be carried— as auditor. We trust the Board will not adopt any proposal to that effect. Not that we doubt the capabilities- of the gentleman, but because an auditor should be entirely independent of the Board, to do his duty with advantage to the ratepayers.

The unequal contest which is now going on iv Parliament between town and country members, is one of those wonderful pieces of folly that men are sometimes guilty of when there is divided responsibility— that is, when the blame for their fouMshness can be put ou other men's shoulders. lii the present instance the blame rests with tie town members, who have fought a useless bat le, instead of giving way at oni.e wheu they discv ered their own numerical inferiority, and trusting to after events to provide a remedy. Had they done so with a good grace they would not only havo had the whole of the large centres with them, but the sympathies of many settlers in the country would have been esteuded to them as martyrs to tlie tyranny of an overbearing majority. Now, their policy of stonewalling, which has put a dead stop to the conduct of the business of the colony, has not only brought them but the whole Parliament into some degree of contempt. It is a great piiy the Premier did tot, during the beginning of the session, when everything was working so smoothly aud the members were so good natured, introduce a bill giving the power of closure. We feel sure the House iv their then mood would have accepted it. The failure to do so is one of the unhappy results of having a Ministry in power which seems to prefer governing by mistakes.