UNPRECEDENTED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1971, 1 May 1919, Page 3

UNPRECEDENTED.

HOU S RHOLDER S’ AIEETINC EXTRAORDINARY. • OUTSIDER PRESIDES. be a large attendance of bouschohlers at the annual meeting on Tuesday night for the purpose of electing a school committee fur the ensuing twelve months, by reason of the rumpus over the acceptance by ii majority of the School Cornmil tee of an offer of a sceond-linmt piano df German manufaclure for £4O, and valued at from £B9 to £-85. Peeling has run pretty high in the community over the matter, and the affair has created an interest throughout the Dominion. Correspondence in the press, petitions to the Committee, and lo the Chairman calling upon him to resign, need not lie recapitulated. The affair was taken to the Board, and lire Board Chairman, Mr Eraser and several

Board members, and the Head Tcu- , eber tlire av in their Aveigbt against -V'lbose committeemen avlio were game enough to defy a sentiment Avhieb smacked more of jingoism than true patriotism. The Board decided (a questionable jurisdiction) that the piano be not allowed in the school. The Chairman of Committee addressed a'public meeting, in which the Avhole matter was gone into, and that meeting endorsed by resolution the Committee majority's action. The maltd* did not end there. The anti-piano faction determined that .all those Committeemen who sup- > ported (lie purchase of the piano should be banished from the school administration. The means to that end need no recapitulation, hut the householders’ meeting avus in be the Waterloo. Upwards of 359 Avere present at. the Hall —many of Avltom Avere not householders, Messrs MeMurray ami Kellow Avere circulating their manifesto in the hall among those present prior (o the meeting. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. While the old committee Avere

transacting final business at a meeting in I lie supper-room a few miiml les before 8 o’clock. Air Ah'. Erasor arose and moved that Mr E. Eirani (chairman of (lie Education Board), avlio Avas in attendance, should occupy the chair. This Avas seconded and carried before a majority of those present knew Avhat was taking place, and people were entering the hall. Air Pirani took the chair, and was addressing the meeting Avhen the old committeemen entered the building at 8 o’clock. Mr Pirani called upon the Chairman lo road lhe annual repori. Air TJonildow said lie objected to Air Pirani acting as chairman, as [ lie was not a resident householder, and the procedure avus contrary to (he Act, He added that such proceeding avus a flagrant reflection upon the intelligence of local people.

Air Pirani explained that lie had been elected chairman prior to Air Hornhluw and others entering the meeting. Air Hornblow was ignorant of the Act in objecting to him (Mr Pirani) taking the'elmir. Ho said (he Act did not slate that a non-resident householder should not* preside at the annual meeting. Ho Avas not fool enough to occupy a position he was not sure of. Air lloiTihlow said he avus quite prepared to fight Air Pirani on tlml point, hut if the meeting hud decided in favour of Air Pirani he had no personal objection. Nominations Avere then called for, ami that of Mr Peter Robinson, proposed by Air Kellow, was added in writing to Ibe printed voting list of candidates, which totalled 22. The nominal ions were declared closed, and Mr Waters, Town Clerk, was appointed Returning Officer, and Atessrs Roure Rangiheuea ’ and Aloorhoiise scrutineer:-.. The report and balance-slice', were read'and adopted. Householders were invited lo come up ami receive their voting papers and record (heir voles, ami deposit same in a ballot box provided. The rush for hallo! papers, ami the arraiigemeitls for voting were very unsatisfactory and confusing. An attempt avus made to scrutinise those entitled lo vote, and several were challenged. The Avhole voting procedure was a scramble, and certain irregularities wore noticeable. ' When the poll was declared closed, and Avhiie the votes were being counted, Air Kellow a.--ked Air Pirani to address the audience on .Educational matters. Mr Piram kept the audience more or less interested for a considerable time, and touched on his experiences with our hoy* in England during Iris visit. He also had something lo say in respect lo the liquor question as affecting the soldiers, and advocated the Avet canteen in camps, as againsl the dry canteens. He added that he had only seen one New Zealand soldier under the influence of liquor while in England, and he probable had been drugged. RESULT OF VOTING.

The result of the election was as

follows: — PER REAL, 155 HORN BLOW, 122 COLEY, 115 f CL All IS, 107 PARKIN, 104 ALEXANDER, 101 ROBINSON, 99 KELLOW, 98 Mo MUR RAY. 95 The above were declared elec-led. The votes received by the unsuccessful candidates were as follow i —-Jno. Ross 04, F. Woods 85, Rev. Bredin 81, Francis 80, Signal 09, Baildon 07, McColl 00, Henderson 50, Aiteheson 51, Sexton 51, Stevenson 42, Martin 41, Read 21. There were 40 informal votes. The

official recount Avill be taken in a (1 ay or two. Messrs Perreau and Hornblow returned thanks, and votes of thanks were accorded the scrutineers and chairman.

THE NEW COMMITTEE. The new Committee subsequently met, and Mr Kcllow was appointed Chairman, Messrs Perreau and Hornblow declining to stand. Mr Claris refused nomination as secretary, but consented to act as treasurer. It was decided to meet in future in the Council Chamber or Mayor’s room. Messrs Hornblow and Perreau were appointed visitor:) and to present a report at next meeting. Mr Kelluw suggested (hat. the head teacher should submit a list of his requirements re furnishings, Other formal matters Avert discussed, and the meeting rose.

Of the new Committee, Messrs Hornblow and Claris (late chairman and secretary, respectively); Avere among the old Committee Avho sanctioned the purchasing of tho piano, and against Avhom there avus a. vigorous campaign. Mr Perreau, an anti-piano member of the late Committee, Avas elected, these three being the representatives of. the old Commit lee; Messrs Geo. Golev, Kellow, and MeMurray (together with Mr Perreau) were a specially selected ticket, to which .Mr P. Robinson Avas subsequently added; Messrs Alexander and Parkin Avere elected on the Labouv ticket.