THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1912. EDUCATION BOARD ELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 23 December 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1912. EDUCATION BOARD ELECTION.

Three candidates have been nominated for the extraordinary vacancy on the Wellington Education Board. These, are Messrs 11. Brown, C. C. Jackson and T. Moss, Ihe School Committees are to bo congratulate* upon having such a. good team from which to select. Each ol the candidates has been identified with. School Committee work for some years, and •either would make a satisfactory representative upon the Board. lii making their select-ionj tho Committees phoyld not be guided by locality, so much. v as qualification. When the retiring member was elected, some ten years back, the Wellington district was not divided into wards. At that time, place of residence was an important factor in determining the results. Since, however, the ward system came into operation, each member selected has represented the whole district. There has been no •such thing its having a representative for the Bush, another for Masterton, and a third for the Wairarapa. The members are elected for the Wairarapa Ward, and are presumed to have •a knowledge of the requirements of every part. The point to be considered by committees in the present election, therefore. i#i not, "Where does the candidate live?""but "Which has the better knowledge of the general educational requirements ?" If the latter tost be applied, it will probably be found that .the balance i« in favour of Mr Richard Brown.' This candidate has issued a circular 'to committeemen, which should at once appeal to their sympathies. He possesse.s a knowledge of the educational requirements which appears to give him an advantage over either of the other candidates. We have not. for instance, heard of either Mr Jackson or Mr Moss advocating an inoren.se in the capitation for country schools. And yet tho Education Board, .which is at present in a strong position, quite entitled ('« make such an increase, as is recommended hv Mr Brown. The suggestion by Mr Brown that' septi>. tanks- be orovided at country schools., to relieve the of the cost of scavenging, In :i'i eminently uractical .011 f». The Bnan7 win" back dnn-ri n. f/>nk at thr, Fernridfr* school, and this has proved so *uccessful that there is no reason whatever ty'Ji* system sliouHnat De extended, '■ aii«

candidate makes it clear that ho fa' ours tho establishment of an Agriclil iural High School as a stopping-stone to an Agricultural College. - He thus shows a correct appreciation of the possibilities of'tho tutu re. Ili.s proposal to establish District High Schools at Martinborough and I'ongaroa as -soon as convenient, indicates that he has a knowledge of the rev ! (|ii:roinents of both ends of th'o disI trict, and that he is not parochial. ! I The 'protest of Mr Brown against the withdrawal of tho . free school-book concession, is a very timely one, and if tho committees are well-advised, they will P2-C that ti)s protest is carried to th(> Board's table. Tho other points treated by.tho candidate in his circular are worthy of the closo consideration of school committees, particularly that which deals with the appointment and transfer of teachers. Altogether, Mr Richard Brown has made out a very strong case, and one that must appeal to a great number of people in the district. The method of apnointment of members' of Education Boards if not as democratic as it might he. There is reason to think, however, that, at tho next session of Parliament legislation will W) introduced to broaden' the franchise The people as a whole will then be given an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon the educational questions of tho day.