LOCAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 157, 13 February 1869, Page 4

LOCAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

ELECTION EXTEAOEDINAB.T, Pursuant to a proclamation, as published in our last, a meeting of ratepayers was held at the Literary Institute, Blenheim, on Tuesday last, for the purpose of electing three persons as a Local Education Committee, the former election being declared invalid by the Superintendent.

Considerable diffidence was evinced by many present, who were proposed for the office of Chairman, some half-dozen being proposed, who positively declined, at length Mr. Millington consented to act. The Chairman having read his Honor’s Proclamation, called upon the persons to make nominations accordingly. Mr. Masters proposed Mr. Collie. Mr. Clarke seconded. Mr. Kissling proposed Mr, Litchfield.

Mr. Hutcheson seconded. Mr. Clarke proposed Mr. Kissling. Mr. A. McLauchlan seconded. Mr. J. S. Carroll proposed Mr. Hutcheson. Mr. Dodson seconded. Mr. Masters said he had been an inhabitant of the place for the last six years, and had known Mr. Collie well by experience to be a good and honorable man for the office. [Some interruptions occurring.] He claimed a right to speak. He knew Mr. Collie to be what he had said, and considered it would be a waste of words to praise him. Mr. Collie was one of the oldest settlers.

Mr. Clarke, as a stranger, wished to speak, hut was informed by the Chairman that speeches from the proposers were now too late. The proceedings were to be conducted in the same way as those for the Provincial Council —only candidates would be allowed to speak. Mr. Collie said he kept away from the last meeting that it might not be said that he wanted the office of Committeeman. He did not want it, but at the same time he had a duty to perform to his province and to his country in obeying the call of his friends. Whilst he did not wish to be elected, he was not to be put down. He considered that any candidate who desired to be elected for the honors or the influence of office, knew little about his responsibilities. Any one who knew what his duty was, unless he were specially interested, would not of himself aspire to office, tor it entailed the expenditure of much time and labor. There was no honor connected with being elected, for anyone might be elected in that province. Honor only belonged to a man when he had earned the crown by his good deeds. It was as well that the Chairman of the previous meeting did not grant a poll in the usual way, as it would not have been valid, through an omission in the Proclamation. That election was evidently going to stand on its merits. Several undue

influences had been brought to bear. Mr. Kissling, the Manager of the Bank, had for days been canvassing amongst customers to the Bank for votes in his own favor. [Hisses, and a voice : Turn out the geese.]

Mr. Kisslinu considered himself a citizen and a father, and had a right to take part in education.

Mr. Collie said he did not question Mr. Kissling’s right to take part in education, but he had no right to actually canvass for himself in his position, for he undoubtedly exercised an influence upon voters, which was to be deprecated. He would not say anything regarding education, but simply, /that if he should he elected, he would endeavor to do his duty. Mr. Kissling, in coming forward, stated that it was not his intention to have addressed the meeting, but as he had been unfairly attacked by Mr. Collie, he could not allow the charge made to remain unrefuted. He denied in foto being guilty of having used the undue influence implied, and which Mr. Collie had imputed to him ; and further, he believed that those who supported him—though some were constituents of the Bank—had not done so because he was its manager. He always had respected Mr. Collie, and did so still, and was only sorry he (Mr. Collie) had been so hasty/ as to make so groundless a charge. He thought, as a citizen of Bleneim, and as a parent, he had full right to exercise his privileges, especially on questions of education, which he considered more sacred than any political vote, from which, very properly, he was debarred by the rules of the service. It was unknown to him up to last Saturday that any active steps were being taken by Mr. Collie’s supporters to secure his return, and it was only last night that he informed his supporters that, having been brought forward, it was their duty to strive and place him among the successful candidates. He did not deny having taken measures to secure his return, but those measures were fair, and Mr. Collie had a perfect right to do the same. Having come forward he would state his views on education. They were based on the most liberal footing, and as the rate was paid by members of every denomination, he thought it better that the bible should be read at stated periods daily, when those parents who objected to its being should have no difficulty on that score.

read, might withdraw their children ; for—as well as Protestants —Catholics, Jews, and others, were equally liable to the rate which supported the school, and therefore had a right to send their children. He thought a child’s religious education should be left to its parents and ministers; their secular education should he effected at a public school. Further, the schools should be subject to more frequent inspection, by which means it would be soon ascertained if the master or mistress were duly performing their duties, and each child, young or old, apt or inapt, was duly receiving its fair share of teaching. This course was pursued in Westland, and the system worked well. Regarding Mr. Collie’s charge and threat, he had but one favor to ask, and that was, that Mr. Collie would carry his complaint to that tribunal he had threatened, where he would probably receive a snubbing for his trouble. Mr. Collie said in no election had he ever asked an elector for his vote. Mr. Kissling said that was no reason why others should not. Mr. Hutcheson said he had nothing to say particularly, but if elected would do his duty. He had been in office now for several years, and thought that Mr. Kissling ought to be allowed to try his powers, Mr. James T. Robinson enquired if Mr. Hutcheson was in favor of a schoolmaster galloping over the country and canvassing, as Mr. Morley had done to his knowledge ?

Mr. Hutcheson' did not know that Mr, Morley had galloped over the country. He had not had any communication "with him on the subject, and in any case, was not responsible for him. A show of hands was then taken for each candidate separately, the result of which was, Collie, 12 ; Litchfield, 11; Kissling, 17 ; and Hutcheson, 14. Messrs. Kissling, Syms, and Sinclair demanded a poll for Mr. Litchfield. The room was then cleared for the purpose, Mr. Collie appointing himself his own agent to watch the proceedings. From 1 to 4 o’clock, an unusual stir and agitation was evident throughout the town and its vicinity, quite unworthy of the unimportant nature of the issue. Carts were despatched to the outskirts to bring in voters, while many persons exhibited blue favors. At 2 minutes to 4 o’clock, amid cheering from those assembled, a voter rushed in on horseback, and nearly experienced an accident from his unusual haste. A moment later, the last voter rushed across to record his vote after everyone else, and for a short time a considerable amount of anxiety was shown to know the result. At length the Returning Officer came forward and announced the numbers to be as follows Kissling . . .. 79 Hutcheson . . . , 59 Litchfield . . . . 58 Collie . . . . . . 45 —He then declared the first three elected. Messrs. Kissling and Hutcheson returned thanks for the honor conferred in this election.

Mr. Collie said that although he had been beaten on this occasion, he had the satisfaction of saying that he had never sought the office, but he had stuck up for the people, and would always speak out what he felt, whether considered by others to be in good taste or bad taste. He had always spoken out, and no one could accuse him of hypocricy. He was proud to say that not one that had voted for him but had acted disinterestedly, and he thanked them. . The customary compliment of a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer was forgotten on this occasion.