EDUCATION BOARD ELECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1571, 1 July 1916, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD ELECTION.

THE first Education Board elections since the amended Act came into operation are to take place on July 19th. The Education districts throughout the Dominion have been readjusted, and the number of

Boards reduced. In tlio ease of the Wanganui district a large and populous area in the north has been merged into the Taranaki district, and two additional members have been added —ten members, as against eight under the old regime. The district is divided up into five wards, each of which return two members. They are the north ward, Wanganui, West Ward, Palmerston j\ T . and South Ward. In three of the wards —the necessary nominations were received to fill the vacancies —(lie candidates, therefore, having a bloodless victory, for the Wanganui Ward seven candidates will {'Oldest the vacancies, including Mr P. Pirani (the sitting Chairman) and Mr Bruce (sitting member). Mr Pirani is standing at the almost unanimous request of the Cornmil tees in and around Wanganui—a great compliment in view of the Bowater appeal case. Pour candidate's will light out the two vacancies in the West Ward. The Board members arc elected hy the school committees in the several wards for which they are nominated. It is regret! a hie that elections were not held in each ward because such contests stimulate interest in educational matters, and impress committee men with the importance of the responsibilities and powers with which they are invested under the Act, and which many committee men do not appear to comprehend. Purther, it rests with committees to elect men to the Board who possess the necessary administrative qualifications, initiative and enthusiasm in educational matters to ensure that the State and children receive lull value for the enormous amount of money set aside in this country for educational purposes. It has been said that the Wanganui Board is “a one man hoard/’ The inference being that Mr Pirani stood head and shoulders above his colleagues in administrative ability, etc. Undoubtedly Mr Pirani ranks as one of the greatest forces in educational affairs in this country, but it doesn’t follow on that account that he should sway the sceptre of an autocrat, and opposition is a safe brake. Some new blood will he introduced into the Board, and while the administration in the past has been satisfactory, a closer grip on the schools and staffs is promised in the future.