School Matters at Terrace End.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1725, 4 June 1886, Page 2

School Matters at Terrace End.

A meeting of Terrace End householders was held m the schoolroom, Terrace End, last evening, . m connection with the new School Committee election,'to take place on the 11th inst. About 50 persons attended. Mr A. Stewart, the chairman of committee, was voted to the chair, and explained the nature ot their meeting 1 together. Mr Woodroofe asked why the circular calling the meeting had been sent round " to oiily certain individuals around Terrace End. Why had the matter been kept so select ? There had not been any advertisement calling the meeting, and some residents were unaware that any meeting was taking place. Mr Linton said the meeting had ■ not been called for a discussion of that sort or for the blocking of votes. It was not altogether a public meeting. The Chairman of the Committee had kindly grauted the us* of the schoolhouse, and they were met together to discuss the question of nominating representatives for Terrace End for the next election. He would object to bringing outside matters into discussion. Mr Wood raff c said it was a pnblic meeting and should have been properly notified. ... Mr Sinclair said that, as a resident of Ten-ace End, he considered that the committee was composed, at least the greater portion <jf it, of all Square men. He had been nominated at the last election, although only a comparative stranger m the district. As many as he knew he had notified of the present meeting. They wanted Terrace End represented at the coming election. They wanted a few of the candidates to look after the interests of the school. Some 200 children attended the school, . and they had not one man representing them. There were many little things to be seen to. That was the principle reason why the meeting had been called for that eveuing, and there was no need whatever for any . bickering. He considered that the. way business ■ was carried on here was a disgrace to Palmerston. All right-thinking men should assist m putting a stop to it and ail such nonsense. It was a perfect farce, and it would be better to leave the thing alone altogether. At some of the meetings it appeared as if rai'u could barely be restrained from striking each other. This meeting had been called m order to get those who reside at this end of the town to take an interest m sowing that they would have some person nominated to represent them. The Chairman then asked Mr Linton. to address the meeting. Mr Linton said their object m meeting together was a very simple, and a. very honest one. If people residing at Terrace End wished to protect themselves they would nominate and vote for a resident candidate, if not they could take their chance. He believed that if they lived eighteen months longer they would find the greater naiuber of children attending the Terrace End School. The school was now so well filled that a great difficulty was found m finding room for any more, and he believed that m six months time it would have to be enlarged. They should look after their own business and they had a right — a legal right, to be represented on the Committee. According to the attendance and revenue ' they were entitled to 3 members. If the householders of Terrace End liked to do it.they had it m their power to place two members on the committee. He was glad to see the chairman of the school committee at the meeting. There had " been, as they all doubtless knew, a good deal of discussion on the school committee question during the. past three weeks. Unpleasant remarks bad been made. He might say that m past years men who had worked hard on the school committee had had a struggle to get what they were now enjoying. It was an excellent system they" possessed m New Zealand that of free education, without political or religious differences. Any child was justly and legaly entitled to walk m and take his or her seat with the highest of the land. Such rights were worth watching, they were worth guarding, and they were worth fighting for. Many nations had fought and shed their blood fo* fa* less value. One o£ their rights undoubtedly was to try and sret two men to represent Terrace End on the Committee. He did not believe m the present system of plurality of votes. He condemned it when he first saw it carried out. He knew that i others m the town had been trying to arrange matters m connection with the coming election. They had not met together, as they had that evening m the ' schoolhouse. It was well known that a certain number could be elected without consulting the householders at all, and it was a very unfair advantage to take of the position. It was an infernal system, that of plumping, by which, if steps were taken a few weeks before an election, th« return of certain men could be assured. It was not an election at all, as a certain number of block votes put a man m. If the Terrace End people liked they could put two men m to represent them. They had a moral and a legal right to do so. While stating this he knew that it was not the right thing to do, but men m the world must fight with the wea- , pons they can get. There was a Bill - now before the House by which a fair and honest system would likely take tha place of the present, where only ona^ vote could be given to one man, H$ knew an instance m his own experience S fit a pphool iltotipn, whew WW PtiHll <HM99

one man. He (the speaker) had every other vote m the room, and then was behind. This would show them the iuiquity of the system. He hoped they' would unanimously deoidb to do the right thing. It was not his business to talk about the late election. They had only "to! do with the new one. It they would select two men, aWd take^t/be- rtrouble to go down and vgM f or! f ftWriyhe did not believe for a moment that those m the town would oppose thenij.but wonld see .they were entitled tl> be'vepresßntod." > •'■ Mr Goldfinch moved that it i« the opinion of the Terrace End householders that,J>w#' members of tile Qohfmitte'e'' should belong to Terrace End. He considered that two separate accounts should be kept of the capitation. They laid the money out aa they liked m the Squacey without considering thorn 3 B} 4 the money was divided properly they would have had a fence long ago. , Mr Woodroofe remarked that this statement was an unfair one, and nn called for,. The interest taken by himself, and other members of the Committee^ln, the Terrace End School, sinceiitpfStart, and previous to that time also; was, he believed well-known. As regafWl We fence, they had urged repeatedly on th« Board the necessity of it, -but without success. He might also remark that the Board would not grant money for the fence, and that it had been contemplated to organise an entertainment and get the Government subsidy of £ for £ so as to erect it. As regarded the dividing of the money, he knew that Terrace End had received its foil share, and the present master could bear him out m saying that anything he had requested to be furnished with had beeii attended to. Mr Goldfinch remarked that he knew well enough the Board would not grant £40 to erect a fence. Why it would build a schoolhouse. A great deal might be m their favonr ifjthfc acconnts wera kept separate. Mr Stewart explained that the Terrace End School had had its share, and more than its share m the past, and if the election had not been upset it had been arranged to do something; m order to erect the fence and also the shelter sheds Everything, however, was held over on account of the election being upset, and the winter would be half over before anything would be done. The committee had done everything m its power for the Terrace End. He would be glad to see two members from that end of the town returned. Mr Lin ton remarked that as far as he knew, this school had been attended to more than the other. Mr Guthrie fully endorsed what had been said by Mr Woodroofe and Mr Stewart, and stated that anything he had wanted had been granted, Mr Robt. Henderson proposed Mr Woodroofe as one candidate. He said they : Would not have had a school at Terrace End it it had not been for his and the chairman's exertion. He was glad to hear Mr Linton speak so highly of the consideration shewn to the Terrace End by those members. Mr W. Fenton seconded the motion. Mr Linton proposed, and Mr Horn seconded— That Mr D. Sinclair be nominated. A settler asked if Mr Woodroofe Would not be m the other district. Mr Stewari explained that the bound ary line was only an imaginary one, made m order to regulate the attendance A discussion took place on this question, various opinions being explained. Mr DFlyger proposed Mr Linton. . Seconded'by Mr Goldfinch. Mr Linton thanked the meeting for its confidence and said that he could do nothing mora than what he had done m the past. Fair play was his motto. Mr Sinclair m thanking the meeting said that although he was a new resident amongst thero.sjill he would, do his best if returned for Terrace Eud. He had been a member of a school committee before, also a treasurer, and chairraan/so that they could see he waß no nevir'^and at the business. Mr Hendersen aaked Mr Sinclair if he would" e'rideavor to get a separate committee for Terrace End. Mr Sinclair said \w did not think that the present attendance warranted a separation, but still if it was found desirable by the householders he would al- I ways be glad to act as they should require him to do. | Mr Woodrooffe thanked the meeting j and said that while m the committee he had worked for Terrace End, and would if elected, continue to act m their interests. If a separate committee were wished for he would make every attempt on their b«half to secure it. Mr Linton sfcatad that as the question of a separate committee might affect his return, he might inform the meeting ■what his ideas were on the subject. He did not think that there was any present need for a separation, but if the time ever came that the people at the other end of the town would act unfairly, he then would most certainly go m for a committee for this end of the town. The chairman explained that the householders of Terrace End need not bother themselves about the matter at all at least as far as the cemmittee were coneerfled. If ten householders petitioned the Board, they could get a separate committee at once ; they need only .define the boundaries and send a plan. A discussion ensued on the question of which two candidates should be nominated for Terrace End, and ultimately a show of hands was taken the wsnlt being 3 for Mr Woodroofe, 18 for Mr Linton, and 18 for Mr Sinclair. A vote of thanki to the Chairman. Mr A. Stewart, for attending the meeting, was then carried unanimously, and the meeting terminated.

At a meeting subseqaently held m the Princess Hotel, Messrs Walton, Stewart, and Woodroofe were unanimously nominated as members to be returned at the forthcoming •lection.