School Committee Election.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1732, 12 June 1886, Page 2

School Committee Election.

The meeting of householders called for last evening to elect a new School Cominittfle, m the place of tht last elected one, declared Illegal by the Waiganui Education Board, took place m the Central Schoolhouse. As was generally expected the attendance was an uuprecedontedly large one. Between five and six hundred persons were present, including members of all denominations. The proceedings, which were . throughout of an irregular and noisy description, were opeued by Mr Stewart, the late Chairman of Committee, asking all who were not householders to 'leave the room m order that there should he. no objection to the proceedings this time, and that affairs .might be con. ducted fairly and legally. Mr Allingham asked that the door should be closed at 8 o'clock. Mr S. Abrahams inquired of the Chairman'what was meant by the term- .householder. He was one, but he believed there were a great many m the room who were not acquainted with the proper definition of the terra. He was requested to wait until « Chairman of tbe meeting should be elected. Mr Stewart said that the object of the meeting was to elect a Committee to mauage the affairs of the school. The last election had been upset on < certain representations to the Board by one man, the Board not taking the. trouble to enquire whether that person's statements were correct or not, (groans.) He [ said that the ballot papera to bo used j . that evening would be printed. The I first thing they would require to do would be to elect a Chairman. XLx Ferguson then proposed thai Mr Linton should take the chair. Mr Batt was theu proposed amidst much cheering and general uproar. Mr Hawkins then addressed the meeting. He did not think it was at all the correct thing that a candidate should allow himself to be placed m the chair. If any candidate was entitled to Bit at that meeting as Chairman, it most undoubtedly was Mr Stewart. He hoped the meeting wonld appoint an independent gentleman who had no interest m the election. He had kuown Mr Batt for many years, and had every confidence m him. He did not wish to throw the apple of discord into the meeting, but as there were so many candidates coming forward he did not think it proper that one of (hem should ocenpy the chair. ' . Mr Linton presumed that the present meeting was a public one. He had as much right, a legal right, to occupy the chair although a candidate, as anyone ietee. It was all very well to hear one side of the question, but then there was the other side. He might farther inform those present that notwithstanding what had appeared that evening injthe newspapers, he was not a Freethinker. (Great uproar). ; Mr Hawkins rose and attempted to address the ineetine\ He commenced by stating that that was not the' place to introduce a question of religious views. His lurther reinaks were, however, drowned by the din and noise m the room.. ; Mr Linton was sorry that the ehairnan could not keep order. ".......■. Mr Stewart, m reply, stated that Mr Linton had brought it on himself, by introducing religion into the meeting. Mr S. Abrahams considered it would be better for. Mr Linton to address the meeting when he was nominated, and not •delay the proceedings. . -, Mr Linton said he wonld be glad to do so if that would do. > ; ' v Mr Sutton said that was not the place for anyone to give their opinion oh Freethought, Wesleyanism, or any other religion. They should first appoint either Mr Linton or Mr Batt to the chair, without making such a.poiae about .It- ■,';•: ■"■ ■ . .'.^- I Mr Stewart then put the amendment to : the meeting, which he declared lost, after taking a show of hands for and ■against. ' Mr Hawkins then proposed a further amendment— That Mr Stewart take the chair.. But his voice was completely drowned by the hooting and cheering going on. " ■ Mr Walton said that Mr Linton was a pronounced candidate, and that if* he conducted the meeting he ;would declare i the proceedings null and vsid. . Mr Linton said that there was ho reaI son for those present to carry on as. they did-. They had simply to conduct the meeting m a fair and proper way. Mr Hawkins said that Mr Linton had do business m the chair at all, he being a a candidate. (All this time a continuous | uproar was kept up.) Ml* Snelson thsn proposed the first candidate, M. W. L. Hirst. The following; were also duly proposed and seconded—Messrs Stewart, Woodrodfb, Walton, Linton, D. Sinclair, Bush, Snelson, J. F. Leary, Hawkins, and West. Messrs Colvilie, Grace, Hosking, Montague, Barry, Moulden, Hopkins, Cook, Haultain, Jehssen, and Partridge, were also proposed, but declined to stand. The latter gentleman stating he was very much obliged for the honour proposed to be conferred, but he was also very particular as to who he mixed with. This remark caused the first burst of uproarious merriment during the meeting. The final instructions bavins: been given to Mr Leary , regarding the printing of the ballot papers, the chairman said that that meeting was for the purpose of electing a committee, and not called for the purpose of discussing the outgoing one. A ; Mr Sutton rose to a point of : order. He said that he had moved that the nominations should be declared closed, and that should first be dealt with before proceeding to discuss other matter. 1 He was informed by the chairman that the declaration had been made. The Chairman then asked those candidates who wished to do so to address the meeting. . Mr 8. Abrahams asked that the chairman should give a definition of the term " householder." Mr Linton replied that he was not a lawyer, but that he should endeavor to conduct the proceedings on as legal a basis as it /was possible. There were some, he believed, who should apply for voting papers who should not get them. Ab chairman of that meeting, he would give bis ruling as to who should be entitled to vote.' He then read tibe clause ' of the Act referring to householders' meetings. He|pointed out that a parent or guardian although not literally a householder would be entitled to vote. In reply to Mr Bush he- stated that - the district extended to the boundaries of the borough. He further .explained that any person owning land was', hot by I such ownership entitled to vote, ; butif occupying a house he oould vote. \ In reply to Mr Partridge he : said' that a man who had a house, but who did not live m it, had a right to vote most certainly* A discussion then followed on the appointment of scrutineers. . Mr Linton said that be considered it a I great waste of energy to appoint scrutineers for all the candidates, but as for as he was concerned they might do so, he had no objection. Mr Walton here pointed out that as he understood the chairman was to decide who should vote, and their present •hairman was a candidate, he considered he should vacate the. chair m favor of some disinterested person. " "''■ '. Mr Linton said he did not see,, why he should leave the Mohair. The Bame machinery was available to upset the election if wished for. ■■ . Mr Stewart informed tbe meeting that when m Wanganui it had been ruled by the Board that neither the chairman .of tbe meeting, not the scrutineers, could object to any one voting. None but the householders oould do so, and if the person voting wished, he might tell them to /mind their own business. Mr Linton said that they did not alto, aether believe all that the Waajfanui #duuatipn Board h,n4 said or done 4urWg Wj{ <IW Wlllii Hbt tntiMiy.

Mr Hanltain then prooosed that a per son should /be appointed to take the names of tho voters so as to be of use, should an appeal be made subsequently • The question of distributing the ballot papers was then discussed. Mr Anderson remarked that a number of persons were outside unable to get m to vote, and arrangements should be made so as to clear the room of those inside when they had received their papers and allow others to come m. Mr Grace thought that if four scrutineers were appointed it would be sufficient. Mr Walton might nominate two and he would nominate the other two. Cries of '• Oh T and groans. Mr Walton remarked indignantly that he would like to know why Mr Grace had singled him out m that way. The following gentlemen were then . appointed scrutineers amidst much confusion :— Messrs G.JE. Hawkins, Grace, O'Neil, Hall, Sutton, Wood, B. Leary, and S. Abrahams. Mr Ferguson wai nominated, but would not stand. Mr J. Jones' asked if Mr. Htykini, junr., was a householder and could aot \ as scrutineer. '-w i Mr Hawkins replied that he was a householder, and that whether he was or. not no person had any right to ask him ■such a question. He had also a vote land would exercise it and as scrutineer he hart been one appointed and would act as such. Mr O'Neil was objected to by some person,. but satisfied the meeting as to his qualification. r . ..-■... Mr Walton, here ; rose and stated thai he had a proposi'tiori,to make. He be. jlieved that Mr Wright was m the riieet* )ing somewhere, and. he would ask that gentleman to st&nd on the platform and establish the tti&h of the representations he had made" yto^ the Education, Board. (Groans and cheers.) He (Mr Walton) was m a position to eive the Eev A. M. Wright the lie his teeth. (Great uproar). r ' * ■' The Chairman interrupted the speaker here and\ stated it Was not fair to enter mto tliat question at all. (Cries of, "It is fair, it is)." - , Mr Wright appealed just then and Mr Walton said he . was prepared to go into the question with him. The Chairman said he would not allow it. A great uproar then ensued and Mr Walton declared there; was no ohainnan present. . ■■■•>< :"■': -• Mr Stewart, during a lull, asked Mr Soelson to inform the meeting whether he was m favor of free, compulsory, secular, education appointed by the Government of New Zealand ? Mr Snelsori replied that he was. Mr Stewart said that if Mr Hirst wen present he would ask him the same question. He however asked individually the other candidates the same question all answering m the affirmative v ■ , Mr Sutton asked Mr Stewart what state, he found the Finance of the Committee two. years ago, when he was returned m the committee. Mr Stewart said there was nothing. The account was m fact overdrawn. Mr Stewart; then stated that 'the Board had withheld all necessary requirement* from the schools — capitation, ?rant r shelter sheds, &c, pending the el ctiou of a new committee, m consent ice of Mr Wright's action. : Mr Sutton asked who were the mem} bfirs of the School Committee at th# time previous to Mr Stewart beinr elected some two years' ago ? ' Mr Linton objected ; he said it was not a proper question to ask. * Mr Suttbn (amid uproar and general coufusiou). The present committee had been th© v one which had successfully placed the-schobls m iheir, excellent position they were then m, and thecandi. dates who were represented on that committee should again receive their support. There were candidates before them that evening, who hjrd baen m the committee from the start dowu to a few years ago, when they retired, and they had never done anything! or the schools. Those men should most certainly not receive the support of the present meetling- ' " ■ - : " ' ■.' .'■... . . ■ I '■ Mr Sutton was not allowed to make any. further remarks through the din and confusion. ?He w|B also ruled pat of order by the chairman,. V '" '* * ; After a little quiet had been restored, ; Mr Sutton remarked further that the meeting should he careful not to place • confidence m the men who had proved ! themselves unworthy m the past. Those candidates who belonged to the old com* mittee of some years back were uot worthy of their support. A general uproar here ensued, amid loud cries of " Wright T Wright,fe^ch him out." Mr Lioton said that those who were howling and hooting m that way were not doing anything creditable. He wagashamed of them. There were men there who wanted to speak and could not get an opportunity oh account of the noise and hooting going on. Mr Haultaln asked the Chairman that: a list of the names of the voters should 1 bo taken down, as at general and other elections. It was the best way to avoid any irregularity. : ; Mr Stewart decidedly objected to any such proceeding ; it was not required tfc all. } . '-..-. Mr Linton said that he would not allow. it unless Mr Haoltain wished toact io the way suggested, when h» could da so with pleasure. The ballot boxes were then placed on the table; *'■ r . -. Mr West then addressed the meetingas a candidate, and m the course of his remarks told the meeting that he belonged to a Christian Church, and if elected^on the Committee, wenld do his duty on Christian lines, acting m tbV interest of the householders; r The. Chairman then informed the meeting as to the procrdure to be adopt-, ed with the ballot papers. A voter might scratch' out all the names* except one* giving that oae "all the number, 7, or he might divide his votes among two * or three, or more making up seven, any votes recorded otherwise would be con- " sidered as informal by the scrutineers, and thro wn out. If more than two were left on the paper,, and not marked how 1 many votes to each, the paper would be considered informal. ■"•'" .; : The papers (first batch of 100) then arrived from the printers, and were commenced to be distributed by Mr - Linton at the door, the crush and excitement becoming more and more in* ■ tense. Mr G. E. Hawkins, (Bcrutineer^, objected to the hftp-bai«rd way m which the papers w«re being distributed, and - insisted on them being handed over to the "scrutineers. Mr Linton did so, handing them over to Mr Abrahams! uond applications were shortly after made for papers, but the 'Chtirmsn said that they would have to wait, nntil they arrived from the printers. After josU Hog each other about for a while, m. vain applying for Tpting papers, some persons being nearly crushed to death at the door, another batbh of papers arri<red and were distributed amidst intense excitement, Mr Linton delivering Some/ and then hanjtfqg over the remainder to Mr S. Abrahams. (sordtinecr). Cries from the far-end pt the room were then heard to the effsut- that the voters a* they received papers at the deor, went sround 'and came m at the othtr thtrance. Mr .Linton said that' a icrutioeer was supposed to bs on the door, tod that he- could not do anything. Other, • batches of papers arrived „ and- were distributed indisoriminetelV amonest, the:.crowd, some, petting two*" papers and others being refused any »t---all. When it was considered • all had been •, supplied, an adjournmeat' w«* made fo ? a 9 Bmall room at -one end of the school, and Mr -, Linton, as X)hairman r . acted as returning officer., Mr Suttoi* taking the papers from the ballot bor and reading them put, and then litndjlnr them to Mr Linton, who placed them is another box, the other scrutineers tak* mg downithe.votetascalled^ut. - At 1% p.m. the poll was declared. Messrs Walton, SnelsonV and J. F^ Leary, were respectively cheered, and the elected members retired to the ad* - ]oming,room to elect officers of the new

Mr Snelson proposed Mr Leary as Chairman of Committee, and Mr Walton proposed Mr Stewart. After some discussion Mr Leary was duly elected. The eleotion of Secretary and Treasmrw was held over.