Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JAN. 28, 1893. No Answer?

Manawatu Herald, 28 January 1893, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JAN. 28, 1893. No Answer?

Directly there appeared an oppor» fcnnity to read the teachers of the Wanganui Education Board a homily as to their duties, one beinj[ the holding in ardent admiration the chairman and officials, the Chairman and editor of the chronicle seized it. but when independent parties expressed their opinions that the Board is not all that it should be, the Chronicle had never a word to say. It may not be considered fitting that our remarks should be replied to, it being undoubtedly thp safest course for tho3e objecting to them to assume, but as the Chronicle in its offensive dictation to the teachers referred to an article of ours it is e\ident that the lack of reply has not arisen from the article not having been read. We are quite willing to accept any reason that the Chxon de chooses to urge, hut it is astonishing why the chairman accepts the severe slap in the face ad ministered by the Wellington Education Board without reply. It will be remembered that the Chronicle asserted that " Wansrnnui is not likely to allow its educational status to be lowered to that of Wellington, which is the rpfuge for dismissed teachers." Mr B'air the chairman of the Wellington Education Hoard said the statement was not true ! and that witlrn the past two years only three teachers from Wanganni have entered the Board's service ! ! This is distinct denial enough, it was made on Wednesday morning and as yet the Chronicle has made no answer. It is necessary that the chairman of the Wanganni Education Board and the editor of the chrmicle should either show that th^ sta'ement made by him is convct, or else apologise for having made it. The difficulty is an apt illustration of the style of communications reeeivpd by the committees from the Board. f l he Wellington Board has within two years received only three teachers from Wanganni. We have only been able to trace one, but that one should hardly have justified the re \ mark that the Wellington Board was " the refuge for dismissed teachers." The oldest member of the Wanganui Hoard in years, and in holding a seat, is Mr Renry Sm«on. He apparently looked upon a position as teacher one worth a member of his family obtaining, and in due course his son, Mr Herbert Sanson, appeared on the roll of teachers. We find his name year after year till 1890, we have not the report by us of 1891, but in 1892 we find he has sought •• the refuge " and anpears as being in charge, of the Mauriceville school in the Wei lington Education District ! 1 1 Was he dismissed ? We do not think so. but, owing to Mr Carson's remarks this gentleman's position hag been made a very awkward one. Perhaps, being only a teacher the Chronicle thinks his feelings, whilst holding such a happy position, is of lifctle consequpn c. As the chai man of the Wanganni Education Board has inspired a decided interest in the movements of teachers, clerks, q.nd other employees of the Board, we would ask for some particulars of a ghost-like individual who has be.pn referred to as " a clerk " but has no name or salary which, at any rate, nrmenrs in the public records. In 1887 Mr Gilbert ! Carson became chairman of the Board. Thfi Inspector reported that 11 during the last thrpe months of the year (1888) such work was somo- ' what lessened owing to the help of a clerk." This clerk though associated with the Inspector was not of much use according to the Inspector's statement after an experience of th»'e<» years ! A«i reporting in 1892 on the y^ar 1891 w»rk wntes "no doubt I was saved by it a certain

amount «^f piv.-ply mechanical correction and of mere copying oi written work." As we have said, this " clerk " has no name ou either the Boaid's Annual Report, or in the chairmar/s report to* the Minister of Education, or in the Use of teachers. Where is he now ? Has he fled to " the refuge " with Mr Sansoh ? Can the chainna.i furnish the " clerk " with a name, and the umojtnt of salary drawn during his term of office* aud how the appointment Vvas iilade and whether he happened to be a relation of any tuember of the Board, and is he still in the Board's employ ?