Our Watchword Progress.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3646, 26 April 1906, Page 2

Our Watchword Progress.

[We do NOT HOLD OURSELVES RESPONSIBLE FOR OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]

MORE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Sir,—As the columns of your paper are open to correspondence, and in this department newspapers form the valuable means oi setting forth all that is right and redressing all that is wrong I beg leave to take up the pen. Foxton, we hear from afar, is a progressive town. Its watchword is “ Progress.” No doubt this is why it gets so many nominations for the position of Mayor. No doubt this is why a man whose motto is “ Try. try again " is left off our school committee and the man whose motto is “ It’s no use trying " is elected. Referring to school committee let ns turn to the meeting on Monday night. Has it not been noticed by our progressive householders that there js or was something monstrously invalid ihnut the election ? Whoever heard of scrutineers being appointed after the voting was done ? Do they conduct “ General Elections” in this fashion ? Does the British public allow one man to nut more than one paper in the ballot box ? I would not insinuate that these gentlemen " that never do nothink that they are ashanied of " would write two papers, but would insist that it is very illegal to put more than one paper in a ballot box.

Again let us return to the chairman’s report re language used. By the result of thelpol! I should say that when a man speaks like a man and mentions occurrences that in his mind are ira* oroper this man is degraded in sight of his fellows. Surely the people of Foxton have not lost all resemblance to the outside world. The man that holds that ‘‘Truth is a virtue” and ac(s and speaks like that surely is more to us—l refer to British citizens—than the man with a “ bully tongue " that comes with a following tts applaude him every time he opens his mouth.

It was quite amusing t« see the affectionate little group that surrounded one member of the meeting and applauded bis words of wisdom. But although this man wore the cap that fitted, still he was allowed to pain a seat over the head of the man that has done more for the Foxton children than any other member oi this town. Shame on Foxton and its progressive citizens. Progress is your sign. Do not you act up to it ? Thanking you, I am, etc., George Francis. Palmerston North, April 24,1906. THE RECENT ELECTION. (TO EDITOR OF MANAWATU HERALD.) Sir,—l was greatly surprised at the remarks made by the Rev. Mr Wilson m connection with the above in which he contended tint it was a disgrace to householders not to have elected Mr Baker. Coming from a “ clergyman ” he certaialv should have left s-tch a thing unsaid, as by such utterances he mt only insulted the householders, but the 65 who voted for him. I would ask the Rev. gentleman if he would have resigned his seal if Mr Coley had not been electecjp That gentleman has rendered great service 'o th 1 school in more ways than one.—l am, &c,, Fair Play.