WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD ELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8172, 3 July 1906, Page 6

WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD ELECTION.

Mr Arthur 11. Vile has issued the following circular iu connection with the approaching Wellington Education Board election:—"l have pleasure iu informing you that, at the request of a large number of School Committees, I have consented to offer myself for re-election to the Wellington Education Board as a representative of tho Wairarapa, and Bush Districts. Having spent practically the whole of my life iu these Districts, and been intimately associated for nearly twenty ynars with School Committees and other aduoatioual institutions, I can, I think, without presumption, claim to possess some of tho qualifications requisite to scouring justice to the Ward which 1 am seeking to represent As you are probably aware, I was the instigator of the first movemeut in the Wellington Province in the direotion of securing the establishment of Distriot High Schools. The result of what was, in the first instance, an experiment, is too well-kaown to you to require description During the twelve months in which 1 have had thehonour of occupying a seat udon the Board, I have endeavoured, in a modest way, to promote the best interests of education, throughout the whole of the Distriot. Particularly have my energies been devoted to securing just treatment to the schools in the country distriots, where education is imparted under so many disadvantages. Upou my initiative the Board has deoided that the canvassing of members by applicants for appointments may prove a disqualification; that the law must be complied with in the matter of the consultation of Committees; that a Committee investigate the whole subject of school books, with a view to affording relief to parents; and, that the Minister be urged to amend the law so that the secreoy of the ballot in Education Board elections may be the better assured. I strongly supported the appointment of an Agricultural Inatruotor, and am endeavouring to make his Bervices available, whenever possible, to schools in outlying districts. 1 am of opinion that the country schools should receive every encouragement to avail themselves of the provisions of the Manual and Teohnioal Instruction Aot. I have s riven, as far as possible, during the few. months I have held a seat upon the Board, to secure grants for repairs and additions to schools, and to provide residences for. teaohers where they have been required. I am a firm believer in the encouragement of physioal culture and nature study in our schools. Should you do me the honour of again returning me to the Board, I shall, as in the past, use my utmost endeavour to see that the Aot and the finances are impartially administered, and that the interests of the whole of the schools in the Wairarapa and Bush Ward are carefully conserved."