TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 949, 11 May 1882, Page 3

TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

P FURTHER TROUBLE. A special meeting of the above Committee was held last night to consider applications tor the position of Headteacher. Present—Messrs Mackay (Chairman), Bolton, Mendeisou, Russell, Davis and Brown.

Mr Harrop also attended. The minutes of the previous meeting were read.

The Chairman said that Messrs Mclntosh and Smith had resigned, and Miss Florence Brown had absented herself from school. Mr Smith had left the following in his own office : * Other duties to attend ; cannot continue duties any longer. This was a telegram addressed to the Secretary to the Board of Education by Mr Smith. Mr Smith had also refused to give a receipt for his salary, and he had not obtained a receipt for Mr Mclntosh’s salary.

Mr Mendelson moved--“ That the matter <f receipts for two cheques handed to Mr Smith for salaries be left to the Chairman,” He believed that a man who refused to give a receipt was liable to a penalty of £5. Mr Bolton said it was better to give a stamp to Mr Smith and obtain his signature. Law would involve expense. Mr Mendelson ; Certainly it would not be worth while to go to law for a penny stamp. The Chairman said that Mr Smith was evidently annoyed with the Education Board, but he did not think he onght to vent his spleen on the Committee. Mr Brown said the worst of it was that Mr Smith had done so in defiance. He would , second the amendment. Motion carried.

Mr Davis wanted to know what authority Mr Brown had to take any action in the School Committee’s proceedings.

Mr Harrop said he would assert his rights as a member. The Chairman said he would not allow the discussion to go on until there was a motion before the meeting.

Mr Davis said he would move— ‘ f That Mr Brown had no legal standing on the Committee ” He did not believe in.a gentleman who was at the fag end of the election being dragged in as a Committeeman. Mr Harrop seconded the motion. The Chairman said he would go on with the next business. He would not accept a resolution seconded by Mi Harrop. Mr Bolton said that before going to the next business they would have to settle the matter some how. He would second Mr Davies’ motion.

The Chairman declined to put the resolution.

Mr Bussell pointed out that Mr Brown had been elected legally by the Committee.

The Chairman said that he would go cn with the next business.

Mr Bolton drew attention to clause 72 of the Act which provides that no recommendation shall be made to the Board with regard to the appointment etc. of any teacher unless three days’ notice of sach meeting shall be given to each member of the Committee. He only got notice that the meeting would be held a few hours ago, and he therefore held it would not be legal for them to proceed.

Mr Davis also said he only got notice about six o’clock.

The Chairman said he could not help

that. He had only received the applications yesterday, and could not have given notice sooner. He had no clerk to do the work.

Mr Bolton said a secretary should be appointed. It was too bad that members could not get timely notice of tbe meetings. He would move —“That a Secretary he appointed.” Mr Harrop would second the motion, and insist on his vote being taken. He would not die like a rat in a hole. The Chairman declined to put a resolution seconded by Mr Harrop, and asked if Mr Bolton would insist upon Clause 72 being adhered to. Mr Bolton said he would most certainly. The Chairman : Then I declare the meeting at an end. Mr Mendelson (who was profoundly studying the Act) : Stop a minute. Mr Bolton said there was no hope, they could get on well together, so the best thing would be for some of them to retire by ballot. Mr Davis agreed with Mr Bolton, and Mr Harrop was proceeding to express his opinion when the Chairman declined to allow the discussion to go on unless there was a resolution before the meeting.

Mr Bolton then proceeded to draft a resolution and Mr Mendclson being still studiously poring over the Act to find a way out of the‘difficulty facetiousness, was indulged in. Mr Mendelson said after considerable study it appeared to him Clause 72 was more elastic than Mr Bolton’s reading of it. There would be nothing gained by postponement. He appealed to the Committee to be unanimous and to agree to go on with the business, as no interest was to suffer thereby, Mr Bolton said that many illegal things had been done in the Committee. It would be illegal to go on with the business. Surely Mr Menzies could carry on the school for three days. The Chairman said Mr Menzies would suffer. He was an applicant for the position of head teacher here as well as in other places, and he would like to know whether he would be appointed or not. Mr Brown : We cannot do any better in three days time than we can now: Mr Davis : I dont know what authority Mr Brown has to use the word ‘we.’ I think he is making too free a use of it. He speaks as if he were a member. I Mr Brown : I think I am.

Mr Harrop : I think I am too. MrMsndelaon : This looks like semistonewalling. Br Brown ; It looks like full stonewalling. Mr Bolton by this time had succeeded in working out the following resolution which he moved :—“That in order that the interests of the school may not suffer I move that three members of the Committee retire by ballot, and that steps be taken in the following manner : That the householders be called together and requested to nominate three gentlemen to fill the vacancies, such nominations to be carried out by the Committee, and that the remaining four members also retire at such householders meeting, the vacancies to be filled as above.” Mr Davis seconded it. The Chairman declined to receive it as it was illegal, no provision having been made to ’call householders together except once a year. As they could not go on with the business he declared the meeting at an end. Mr Harrop moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman. Mr Davis seconded it,