EDUCATION BOARD BIELECTION

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 25 January 1918, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD BIELECTION

The " Ngaruawahia Advocate" says the forthcoming election for a member of tho Auckland Education Board to take the place of the late Mr W. Auld, is remindful of the idiotic system in vogue by which members of school committees are asked to cast their votes. As in previous cise?, we have two candidates plotting up for the position, who are totally unknown to the majority of the committees. Mr J. S. Bond of Hamilton, and Mr J. Patterson of Pnkekohe, are the names of the aspirants. Mr J. S. Bond, we most of us know as having filled the position of registrar to the Waikato District for a number of years, no doubt in a satisfactory manner; and Mr J. Patterson, we are informed, has served on a school committee for the last 25 years. It is quite possible that both gentlemen may'.be eminently qualified for the position they seek; but on the other hand, as far as the out* lying school committee's knowledge of their capabilitis are concerned, such might not be the case. The only other means of judging their respective merits for the position is by a screed sent round to the individual members of committees, containing a few general statements of the candidates'desire "to serve the district to the best of their ability, if favoured with your confidence, etc." It is quite possible that 95 per cent, of the voters have never seen the candidates they have asked to select or reject, as the case may be. Summed up, the position is that the members of committees are asked to close their eyes and haphazardly vote on the blind, the alternative being, of course, not to vote at all. It is questionable if the latter would not be the more preferable procedure until a system is introduced, that will allow of, in some degree, at all events, a means by which a sensible choice may be made.