Levin School Committee.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 May 1914, Page 3

Levin School Committee.

AiNiNUAL MEETIiNG Ai\i) «

ELEUTIOiN

The* annual meeting oi the Levin School L'oniiniUee was held in ike scliooi room on Thursday evening for tile- purpose of dealing wiin Uie report and balance-sheet and ine election oi a committee ior tiie ensuing twelve inontna. (irout interest was taken in tlie- proceedings and liiere was a very large attendance. The- large room ut liie sctiooi was iilled, and u great number stood in the corridor. The attendance was estimated at fully and as about &4U ballot uauers were issued, this was probably somewhere near the number. Mr i\ \V. Goldsmith was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting being read and continued, Air E. S. Lancaster read the annual report of the committee, and Mr A. Sims the balance-sheet, which showed a credit balance of £o-i Us made up by a general balance of £60 Is 7d and a balance of £-i 7s 7d from the picnic. Mr McTaggart moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet. Mr J. Johnson seconded the motion. Mr Lancaster said that the position of affairs as disclosed by the report and balance-sheet was satisfactory, in connection with tho election he challenged, the allegation of the Kev. A. U. lianderson that he was a ticket-monger. There was no foundation for it at all. lie was quite unaware that he was on the ticket. it was not lair ior anyone to take up such a bosition and make a statement without being sure of their ground, lie ,\ras confident that his friends in Levin would vote for him without a ticket (applause). The itev. Mr itanderson had a ticket of his own and then went round trying to induce people to vote against him. lie asked for a fair chance at the hands of the electors.

Rev. Mr Randerson stated that he wished to say that his letter which appeared in The Chronicle was written to give ALr Lancaster and Mr Henderson a chance to explain their position. in having nis name on the ticket Mr Lancaster had laid himself open to have his action misunderstood. He had nothing against Mr .Lancaster, he considered him a straight and honourable man. The ticket syslein was an oid-s landing abuse in . ihe town for many years, but they nacl managed to upset it lust year, lie appreciated Mr Lancaster's met and kindness as chairman oi tne ooniinrUee. The lact tnat his nanie was on the ticket led them lo conclude that Mr .Lancaster had uo objection to it being there, lie strongly denied that he (Mr liunuerson) had went around the town putting people agianst Mr .Liancaster. He simply put the facts belore them and Iclt them to judge. lie hoped that, the householders would give a lair and honest vote and would not be dictated to by any party or faction who wished to run the school. They wanted the beat committee it was possible to get. (Applause;. The report and balance sheet a.s read were adopted. i (1 or the new committee eighteen were nominated; twelve in writing and six verbally. While the ballot papers were being prepared Mr Goldsmith announced that anyone wishing Lo speak on any matter in connection with the election could do so. Several availed themselves of the opjxirtunity. Mr Dawson said it was a matter i>i. congratulation to see so many ladies present and taking such an interest in the proceedings. In i he committee the bulk qf_ the .work fell on the secretary and treas-lu-er, and he had done his work \\ nil. They had a good substantial balance at the end of the year. There were several kinds of surplus : one was in the political form hidden away in columns of figures, while another sort was of the earmarked variety. The best surplus was the sort that the Levin School Committee had; one that had a jingle and could be plainly heard. Mr W. Thomson said that peopje had told him that his name was on one ticket. Jf that was so he could not explain how it came to be there. lie had not given anyone permission to put it ill to, and if he had bceu asked lo consent to it he would have refused. Hβ was opposed to the ticket system, as it meant that they were not electing men on their merits. He did not agree with the method (that of issuing an opposition ticket) of fighting it thai was adopted. They wanted men on the committee who were not mere dummies of the ticket system (applause). The sooner the system was crushed the bettor it would be for the school and the children. Mr J. Johnson said that his name was on the ticket without his consent. He was a free and independent candidate and he was <roin»- solely for the good of the school and'children. (A voice: "You're a rail-sitter, .lark!") The head-teacher's report (read earlier in the evening) was referred id by Mr Goldsmith, who considered +liat the teachers deserved s<llno recognition. Mr Lancaster said that all llnv. teachers gave every satisfaction. I Tic moved a hearty vote of thanks j l<. the teaching stuff for their ser- , vices last year, and that themeet- | inu record'its appreciation of their I services. I Mr Outfield seconded the motion which was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr T. TTook, seconded by Mr T. Ho well, a vote of tlifinks was accorded to the outgoing committee ny noclamntion : Mr Hook remarking that the committee had given its very best" ser. , vices to the householders during , ; tlip.p:tst. year. : Mr Ljuions+w movod nnd Mi- TC. i vT. J. Smith seconded n proposal I that a vote of thanks be given to

Mr Goldsmith for the manner in which he had conducted the election. —Carried. A special -vfote of thanks to those who had given their assistance at the election was carried on the motion of the Kev. A. C. Kauderson, seconded by Mr W. Thomson. Votes of thanks to all who had assisted the. committee in any way last year, and to the ladies for their assistance at the picnic were also carried. ' No one could think of any further votes of thanks. The ballot papers arrived and the voting proceeded with. It resulted as follows :— E. S. Lancaster 127 A. Sims 113 T. Broomc 113 It. E. Henderson ••• 1053 T. Duwsori 101 H. C. Clapper 99 W. Thomson ... ••• y * E. 0. Smith 97 ltev. A. C. lianderson ... 95 «T. Smellio ... ••• 95 A. Denipsey °' E. G. Glackm ... ... 83 J. Johnson ... >•• J7 C. Kelleher 75 H. Walker ... ••• 72 N. C Holdaway ... 69 I. Hook ••• 6 7 «T. Procter 60 ilr Goldsmith declared the first nine duly elected, he, as chairman, having given his casting vote for thojiey. A. 0. Itanderson who tied for ninth place with Mr J . Snieliie. All the members of the old committee were re-elected with the exception of Messrs H. Walker and J . Snieliie. Messrs Lancaster, Thomson, G upper and Dawson returned thanks to the householders for their election. ElllST MEETING. THE xNISW SCHOOL COMMITTEE Immediately after the election on Thursday evening the newlyelected members mrl to choose a chairman and secretary, and attend to a few urgent matters. There was a full attendance. Mr Smith, considering that the position of chairman * should go round, proposed Mr Broome as chairman. Mr Broome preferred to stand down in Mr Lancaster's favour; he had made a good chairman last year. Rev. Mr Eanderson proposed Mr Lancaster and Mr Thomson seconded.- Carried unanimously. Mr Smith proposed and Mr Dawson seconded that Mr Sims be secretary. Mr Sims thanked them for the honour, but would rather see someone else take the position. The committee was unanimous that Mr Sims was the best man for the position, and expressed tho wish that lie would accept it. He agreed nnc[ the mo- , tion was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Smith the matter of erecting a new gate post was left in the hands of the chairman and .secretary. Mr Smith drew attention to the need of having the shelter sheds put in order. Mr Thomson moved that the necessary boarding: be done at once, and in tho meantime the cost of concreting tho sheds be ascertained. This was seconded'by Mr Broom oi a?id carried. Tt was decided to meet on the first Tuesday of every month fit 8 p.m.