Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1896. School Committee Elections.

Manawatu Herald, 2 May 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1896. School Committee Elections.

» *• The proceedings at the meetings of householders in Wellington certainly draws attention to some flaw in 11 The School Committees Election Act 1891 " which had better be remedied before other yearly meetings are held. The Act permits candidates to be nnmimUf-d fit flip meet ingprovid.'d thi.-ir^nseut is t.htained. In the Wi-I'ing'rn ca°"* 'hi' wns done and as some householders I

oxp!nirpfl "t apponred pg though n put nod flviorl coniniU f r? wna tflrnly to bo forced upon them, and before voting they would like to heftr the views of ths candidates. This appears but ric>ht and the clamour arose from a section of the householders desiring to refcdrti a committee faV&urable to Bible reading in schools. Every householder has an undoubted right to bis own opinion and those not previously Consulted find at the meeting a number of candidates nominated about whose views they are in the dvrk. How can these people vote intelligently if all discussion is barred up most of the chairmen of the meeting* decided 9 The Act is. h& usual, not clenr as it directs the chairman to " afford an opportunity for nomination as allowed hy this section of tbe Ach, and shall then read or cause to be read a complete list of ilia persons nominated for election. The meeting shall then proceed to elect the required number of persona to serve on the Com mittee." The only opening "for a f;w remarks " would appear when a householder " nominates for elec .ion '* a euudicu'A. \V~ c.;u see a. './.-"(•y': wh.v;- 1/v Can V.:} : ',; '. .-how. This is wrong, but whilst granting a certain amount of lati tude it is to be hoped that sorcib restriction on the length of speeches as well as to whom talk shall be allowed will be made, or a stone wall might be set up which would quickly clear the room of all except those who were willing to put up with any inconvenience to gain their point. Dining the lengih of time the Act has boon in force this difficulty has never previously cropped up.