LAWRENCE GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 190, 5 October 1871, Page 5

LAWRENCE GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

(To the Editor./

Sib, — Your issue of the 28th ult. contains a report of a meeting of the above named Committee,- purporting to have been held on Friday, the 22nd ult. This meeting appears to have been special, as the President stated that it had been convened in order to consider " The Education Bill now before "Parliament," after which the President expressed his oion views of the Bill in a speech of considerable length. It is not my purpose here to canvass the leaiued President's address, but simply to call attention to what took place towards the conclusion of the meeting. This Ido upon public grounds, having been refused by the secretary to the School Committee the information which I now seek.

By the report above alluded to, it appears that the Committee decided " that a telegram be sent to Mr. J. C. Brown, M.H.R, at Wellington, informing him of the decision at which tho Committee had arrived."

It is quite obvious that" this telegraphing of the result of the deliberations of the Committee was intended to answer aud to serve a political purpose. It is certain that when the Committee was elected tlie existing phase of the education question was not before the public in that w.ell denned manner which now characterises it, and that, consequently, the Committee has no right to aastune t'uat it rcpressnts public opinion in this paHioalai ana very special matter. Further, it must be remembered that the Committee was elected for the purposes of the Education Ordinance pure and simple, and is, therefore, exceeding its functions when it (as a Committee) expresses an opinion upon matters with which (as a Committee) it has nothing to do.

I should like to be informed by the Committee whether the result of the Committee meeting of the 22nd September, 1871, was telegrarphed to Mr. J. C. Brown, M H.R. , or to any member or membeis of the Colonial Parliament ; and, if so, out of what fund the telegram was paid for. Theso are questions which concern the public, and to which the Committee ought to give a decided reply. I am by no means anxious to curtail the powers of public bodies in ordinary matters — quite the reverse ; but I object to a Committe9 endeavouring, by resolutions which are ultra vires, to influence the decision of the Legislature upon a subject of great and lasting importance.. Doubtless the public will yet express its opinion in a proper and truthful manner. — I- am, &c, John L. Shadwell Keen. Lawrence, October 1.