STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81825, 18 August 1906, Page 2

STRATFORD.

(From our own correspondent), By the mid-day train to-day a consignment of five English pheasants was received from Wellington by the local Acclimatisation Society. The birds will be liberated at Strathmore, Constable Hyde, who is now on leave, was a passenger by the mid-day train to New Plymouth. There is grave doubt whether the operation performed on his little boy has been successful. At the School Committee meeting held on Wednesday night, Mr J, D. Morrison sent in his resignation as a member of the committee. Mr Morrison has been elected a member of the Education Board, and does not think anyone should be a member cf a school committee and of the Education Board. The resignation was received with regret as' Mr Morrison is one of the most capable members of the Committee. His election to the Education Board is a most popular one, for he is a man of backbone, and country school committees may depend that their interests will be well looked after by Mr Morrison. Teachers will find a a sympathetic friend in Mr Morrison and any arbitrary rules now in vogue will receive a set-back if he has his way. Mr W. Rodgers, of Pembroke road, who unsuccessfully contested for a seat on the Education Board and was defeated by only a few votes, states by advertisement m the local paper that he will again contest the next election. I trust he will then be successful for he would make a live member. He has had considerable experience as chairman of the school committee and country committees ivjll be standing jn their own light if they do not vote for him. Some short time ago the positions of fourth and fifth assistants in the Stratford District School were vacant, and on the recommendation of the headmaster, the school committee requested the Education Board to promoto two of the lady assistants at present teaching in the school to tho vacant positions. This the Education Board did, without advertising the vacancies. Has the Taranaki Board any system of promotion ? I think not. Then why should lady teachers who havo been in the back-bloclfs for years not have an opportunity of obtaining a position in a town school ? By the action'of the headmaster, the Committee and the Board, many deserving lady teachers have boon debarred from applying for any chance of promotion. The sooner this parochial system of selecting toaehers, is vetoed the sooner will justice be done to deserving teachers. Local influence seems to be paramount in Stratford, August 17.