HOW A CHAIRMAN WAS APPOINTED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3773, 29 March 1928, Page 3

HOW A CHAIRMAN WAS APPOINTED.

TALE UNFOLDED BY EXSCHOOLMASTER ADAMS.

The most interesting speech delivered at yesterday’s High School function was that of Mr. W. Adams, ex-schoolmaster and member of the Wanganui Education Board. He unfolded a tale of past local school events which have not previously been published and in which humour, pathos and tragedy were intermingled. Harking back to some years ago he said: “The fights between the Chairman of the Board (not the present one), and the Chairman of the Committee, will long remain in educational history. Why, the emptying of the vinegar into the Gerinan piano has become as historical as the emptying of the tea into the Boston Harbour (laughter). , “One minor event, however, which has its sequel in to-day’s glory, I must tell you.

“During the three years that I was here from 1907, the Committee had no less than six chairmen. The last of the six, had his cup filled by the schoolmaster explaining that the Committee had no right to interfere in school classification of the pupils, but should confine themselves to the environment and care of the building. The Chairman immediately resigned, and as iu)ne of the other members of the Committee would take the chair, the Committe ewas in a dilemma. They had important and urgent business that night, so after looking at one another for an hour they appealed to a reporter who was present to help them out of the hole. “After much persuasion, in which the late chief Inspector Braik joined, the scribe agreed to help the pharisees out of the difficulty by taking the chairmanship, and, believe me, lie did it so efficiently that ho has held that position ever since. So, ladies and gentlemen, I consider that I am primarily responsible for Mr. Hornblow’s chairmanship of to-day. “For over twenty years, Mr. Hornblow has directed or should I says dictated the educational policy of Foxton, and lie has made very few mistakes. It is through him that Foxton is proud to-day. Had lie not. been chairman I am afraid you have no one else who could have administered the vinegar and the honey in the correct propor- ■ lions, and at. the right times, to get the Minister to disgorge £6OOO to-day for a High School, when in other similar places be has often to make less than £2OOO perform the same purpose.”