Strong Language

Levin Daily Chronicle, 6 March 1917, Page 4

Strong Language

STORMY MEETING AT WHAXGAREI. Some lively exchanges between members took place at a recent meeting of the Whangarei High School Board of Governors. The first occasion was when Mr J. 'Wilkinson had. started to speak to one of the motions, and was prevented from voicing his views by the chairman (Mr J. M. Kiillen) also rising and breaking in with what was termed an explanation. Mr Wilkinson warmly resented the interruption. Later the board was discussing a point raised by the chairman respecting the date from which payment of a teacher's salary should start, the chairman maintaining his stand for February Ist as against the advocacy of January Ist by nearly all the other members.

The chairman said that there was some '''underhand working which he would like to find out." Thiß brought Mr J. D. McKenzie to his feet with an emphatic and terse refutation of such dirty insinuations. The chairman (heatedly): You have already spoken to the motion and 1 will not hear you. Mr MeKeiizie (very decisively): You will hear mel The chairman (crescendo): If you don't sit down I will call the police, and have you ejected from the room. Mr McKenzie left his seat at the table and advanced menacingly towards the chairman, saying: "Who are you, anyhow? You call the police and you'll be the first ejeetcd from this room —on the toe of my boot.

The chairman (fortissimo and evidently anticipating a personal assault); If you lay a finger on'mer I'll make you suffer all the consequences.

At this stage other members intervened with oily words, which smoothed the troubled waters for the time being. On the vote being taken the January 'Ist men won by a sweeping majority, only the chairman being against.