THE HIGH SCHOOL QUESTION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10702, 24 August 1912, Page 5

THE HIGH SCHOOL QUESTION

I PUBLIC MEETING IN MASTERTON. Mil ROBINSON EXPLAINS. The meeting of Masterton Trus-i Land Tru&t voters convened by Messrs H. C. 'Robinson, T. Wagg aid T. B. Mich oil in the Town Hall last evening wag largely attended. Mr J. M. Coradinc, Mayor of M;>. terton, presided, and after explaining the object of the meeting called upon 'ir Robinson to speak. •Mr Robinson spoke at length of the matters which led up to the preparing, by Messrs Wagg and Mitchell and himself, of the report which was the direct cause of their presence tlieie that evening. He explained that on the evening oa which the report w.i* to come before the members of tho Trust the three members of the com ffiitteo were unavoidably absent, tho report of the committee being that d \ published in the Wairarapa Daily Times. The meeting was informed that lie would be present at the meeting on the arrival of the Wei lington train. When he did arrive he found that the meeting had been cut short and was concluded. He afoo found that at the meeting certain members of the Trust including the chairman,-had consured him for his action in publishing the report. Mr Krahagon: "I also stated that T would take no responsibility in the matter."

Mr Prague!!: "That's right, let in have the whole truth." Mr Robinson: "I'll tell the whole truth about you Orlando Nathaniel Pragnell, before I'm done with you."

Mr Krahagen continuing, said tli-i* ho had an interview with Mr Robinson and told him that if -ho did publish the report ho would do so at his own rosponsib'lity, and said that there would be a row. Mr said thnt lie liked a row. Mr Kraliagen then saw the editor of the Daily Times and told him that the report should not be published. He had a wire from Mr who. was ; :i Wellington, ordering him not to publish the report, and later a wire telling him to .publish it. Later stil' camo a wire not to publish it. Th's was received too late 'and the report was duly- published. Mr Robinson 'Continuing, said that lie bad directed tho publication of the report, but on thinking the matter over, he thought it would be bettei not to do so. Owing to a mistake i 7 a telephonic communication to his office in Masterton, the publication took place. Dealing with the levelled against tho special committee. Mr Robinson said that it waa onk fair that tho Trustees should say nothing until the members of that com mittop were present, and having departed from that principle ho maintained that, they were justified ;n bringing: tho matter before the public. The position was now that he voluntarily pla.-ed his position before the public to decide whethr-r or nor he retained the public confidence. Referring to tho ciiticism of the Wairarapa Age the -speaker said that it was of an unfair nature as it tended ;o mislead the public. Tho idea thnt the movement for a High School was antagonistic to the movement for the «stablishmcnt of an Agricultural College wan erroneous. He hoped that the deputatoin going to Wellington to-morrow would get a speedy rQply from the Minister and not keep the matter danglmg before the public for a considerable tinv. (Applause. ).

Mr 0. X. IV'gnell rose to speak at this stage. uvA said that he would adhere to the statement which lin had made in reference to the bringing of Trust matters before the Trust as ;< body be intended to stick to, and he was sure that he nad the Trustees with him. The last meeting was a short one because Mr Robinson, was not there (laughter). Ho backed up the action-of the Chairman, who had done the right thing, (Applause), j Robinson's telegrnn ordered tho nonrntblishing of the leport. Where thpn Was the reason for the. explanation. Messrs; Wagg and Michell wGic not tho committee. Mr Robinson was the committee. At this stag. l the Chairman ruled Mr Pragnell out c-F evdev. M?' Pragnell, continuing, said tint ho had it: from Mr Wagg that he was opposed to doing away with capitation grants, while Mr Mitchell only favoured reducing thorn.

Mr Robinson r-aid that lie had endeavoured to arouse the apathy in Trust matters, and the largo attendance present showed that public interest had been roused in a matter of tho utmost and vital importance to the people of Masterton. (Applause). The? motion was then put that the meeting approve of the action of Messrs. Robinson, Wagg and Michell in bringing the question of the report before the public. Mr G. Heron, in seconding the motion said that the whole, business was a. tempest in a tea-cup, and asked what was the use of all such nonsense, which was not worth five minutes' consideration. He did not know what Mr Robinson called the meeting; for. The motion was then carried. Mr E. Flanagan asked Mr Robinson