ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 308, 22 January 1875, Page 2

ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

It is rather remarkable that the -public feeling with regard to the exclusion of the clergy from the school committees should have been so conspicuous this . year. At Dunedin there were no clergy nominatedAt Tokomaieibo When Mr. Coffey was proposed, Mr; Black said" he theuglit it better that ■ clergymen should not be on the Committee ;: but if Mr. Coffey were proposed, lie would also propose the Bev. Mr. Chisholm. Mir. Marryatt said lie was exceedingly anxious to' learn why clergymen should not be elected members of Committee. - - - :.Mr. Black made a few. remarks, .and Mj\ Marryatt expressing himself still dissatisfied, Mr. Perrier gave, at a little 1 length, some reasons with which Mr. Marryatt professed himself still 1 discon- ' tented. ..~ Messrs. Murray and Mackaiy were elected scrutineers.-, •. .. ; ; J. ■ ; The following gentlemen were elected:' —Messrs. Jones, Cunninghame, Murray,' - : • Inglis, Ferguson, Marshall, and Clark... ATLawbencb j Mr. Adams said there was a matter he; intended to bring before the meeting before the voting Was taken. He thoughtit was desirable that clergymen should hot be connected with Public School Committees. He said there was lately a great squabble at Clinton through a clergyman being on the School Committee. H© made these remarks with all due deference to the Rev. Mr. Menzies, for whom he entertained a very great regard. Has own opinion was in favor of denominational, schools, and in these the proper place for a clergyman was at the head. The President here asked Mr." Aduma if he had a proposition to make. Mr. Adams said ho would move -that no clergymen be elected to serve on die school Committee. The President said he could not receive such a motion. Mr. Alexander held that such a motion was simply an insult to Mr. Menzies. .If Mr. Menzies, Mr. Cameron, or Father Larkin were eligible for election they could not be prevented from taking part in the conducting of the school if elected. . The President told Mr. Alexander that he could not allow discussion on the motion as he would not receive it. The Bev. Mr. Menzies said he hUd been a member of the committee for ? a few years and had no wish to join it again. He would challenge anyone to show that during the time he had been on the committee he had shown any sectarian feeling. ; He had all along acted from the purest motive, viz., the welfare of the. school. However, as there seemed to be a disposition to edge ministers out of the Committee, he bogged to withdraw from - nomination. _Mr. Ferguson also wished to say something with reference to the motion, but the Chairman would not allow further, discussion. The result of the ballot was the election : of the following named gentlemen-: - Messrs. Jamison, M'Coy, Hayes, Squires, Thompson, Abel, Ferguson, Jeffery, and - Fraer. - V- "J This concluded the business of' .the meeting., ' ' "'' •