SCHOOL COMMITTEE "TICKETS."

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 May 1914, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE "TICKETS."

(To the Editor)

Sir, —One cannot complain of any lack of interest- in the election of a public school committee in this town. I have heard of a mere handful of householders attending the annual meeting in a certain populous district, and sallying out to lay violent hands on some unlucky paßser-by and constraining him to stand for the committee. In Levin, however, we need a larger room that the largest in the school to accommodate the crowds who come, and we have an embarrassment of riches as far as candidates for the nine places are concerned. We also have "tickets," Sir, and that is what Iv desire specially to expose. For some years this most unfair and indefensible method of ejection by "ticket" lias been adopted by a certain section of the community, and tm- ' il Inst- year the ticket always went in in a body. Now what happened last year? Those householders Ayho had consistently failed to obtain representation on the com•nittee year after year organised to defeat flip "ticket" party. They ■ lenied the right of a little coterie •n the town to choose whom they ■vould as a "ticket," print it, scatter it broadcast without any title to indicate its views of school management, and diligently canvass and tout to get it returned. They were justly indignant at the arrogance and treachery to the public shown by a group of householders who sought to obtain unchecked control of the school administration, and sought it, not openly pr by a published platform of opinions, but by secretly beating up those they could persuade f ° voto for them. The nature of the "ticket" method is such, Sir, as any thinking person can readily see, as to mean the defeat of every candidate who is not on the "ticket," and therefore the only sure means of upsetting the "ticket" is to meet it on its owi ground, i.e., get out an opposition "ticket." That was done, and done successfully last yei? Now the retiring committee has worked most harmoniously during the vear, and endeavoured ti do its duty to the people. But so far from letting the ho lsehoiders come together independently and .judge the committee on its record, Hie same old coterie must needs run "ticket" again this year, including in their list two of the retiring committeemen, who hapO.IOAV OTJAi O.VV} iCjUO 9T[), 9C{ 0} UOd 011 the defeated "ticket'' last year. T challenge those two committeemen to explain their position. Further, I wish to ventilate the method pursued by these busy ticket-mongers. They asked one gentleman on their printed "tickef' if he would stand this year, and on his assenting, included him in their nondescript list without asking his permission to do so. The same thing was done last year. Now, sir, the remaining members of the retiring committee, contrary to their original intentions, feel compelled, for the guidance of their sympathisers, to meet the "Ticket" rarty—they have 110 other claim to a title - on their own ground again. The gage of battle having been thrown down, we take /f: and we appeal to every rightminded householder to accept the challenge thrown down, make the issue on which this election is fought th utter condemnation of the "ticket" method, and come up to the school on Thursday night prepared to annihilate so scandalous a method by voting right, out the authors of that policy. Yours A. C. "RANDETtSON. The Manse, May sth, 1914.

Mr W. Moyuihan. Shannon, advertises that trespassers on his property will be prosecuted.

Messrs Abraham and William;., Lid., advertise additional entries Jor their Levin stock sale on Friday next.