DEFECTIVE REGULATIONS CAUSE TROUBLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1981, 24 May 1919, Page 2

DEFECTIVE REGULATIONS CAUSE TROUBLE.

"We reproduce the following editorial from yesterday’s Palmerston 'Times, the editor of which, Mr P. C.< Freeth, is a member of the Wanganui Education Board: —

“The deputation which went from T’oxlon to 1 the Wanganui Education Board on Wednesday night was large and loquacious. The Board gave it a patient and attentive hearing. There were one or two sharp passages at arms between Mr J. K. Hornhiow (leader of the deputation), and Mr Pirani (the chairman of the Board), in which dignity and decorum were thrown to the winds. At -one stage Mr Hornhiow, labouring under a sense of grievance, applied to the chairman an invidious epithet, and Mr Pirani shouted to him to leave the room, but Mr Hornblow promptly apologised, and ruffled feelings were comparatively smoothed. It was (he function of (he deputation to prove that the proceedings at I lie Foxton School Committee elections were so irregular that the result was affected. The evidence disclosed that the addition of a name in pencil on the printed list had probably rendered forty ballot papprobably rendered forty ballot pap- / ers informal, but as this was not the result of an irregularity, but a misfortune arising out of the slovenly way in which school committee elections arc universally carried out under the present regulations, the Board could not interfere. One or two cases of minor irregularities were pointed out, and, specifically, two persons were named who, alle-f gedly, should not have voted; but nothing was produced which could justify the Board in coming to (he conclusion that such irregularities had occurred as would have materially interfered with I lie election. Mr Pirani made an attempt to justify his assumption of the chair (an admittedly irregular proceeding), but no allegation was made by the deputation that anything he said or did was calculated to influence the electors one way or another. On the contrary', the diversion which he created by delivering a lecturethi on the war seems to have contribut-M cd to calm local feeling which had been sadly ruffled bv the ‘German

piano’ incident. “On the other hand, educationists will agree that the less interference there is between the executive of education hoards and local committees and teachers, the belter it will be for education. It is certain that, no good purpose can be served by exploiting the incident referred to any further. Mr Hornhlow’s past services to local education ha\>, Jj been exemplified by (lie votes accorded him at (he School Committee election, and his supporters m;ife rest assured that he will continue t<y work with his old-time enthusiasm in the interests of the children, which, after all, is the main concern, One matter to which the School Committees’ Association might devote themselves with advantage is the amendment of tire " Act governing school committee elections. The rough and ready procedure of the old days has outlived , any usefulness it may have had. '

Barents are showing a greater interest in educational matters, and school committee elections can no longer be conducted with primitive machinery. It is essential that in all important centres nominations should be called for in advance, and every care taken that only those eligible to vote should have (lie privilege. Delinitious should be made explicit, a recount provided for, and the privileges of the electors and candidates guarded in every reasonable wav.”