EDUCATION BOARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1942, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD

BIENNIAL ELECTION TWO MEMBERS LOSE SEATS. MR H. J. McKENZIE ELECTED FOR WAIRARAPA. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Two sitting members of the Wellington Education Board were defeated when the results of the biennial election were declared by the returning officer at the meeting of the board yesterday. Four members were returned for the city area, the number of vacancies having been increased from the former two available on the basis of population representation. Those who lost their seats on the board were Messrs J. J. Clark, an urban area member who had held office for 24 years, and Colonel T. W. McDonald (Wairarapa), who has served 17 years on the board, the last 12 consecutively. Tributes were paid by board members to the services given to education by both. Results of the election were: Hutt-Horowhenua ward of the rural area: Wilfred Stanley Higgs, 40; *Donaid McCaskill, 132 (elected). Valid votes recorded, 1/2. Hutt-Petone urban area: -Walter Verran Dyer (elected unopposed). Marlborough ward of the rural area: *Howarth Duckworth, (elected unopposed). Masterton urban area: * William Redford Nicol (elected unopposed). Wairarapa ward of the rural area: Herbert James McKenzie. 145 (elected); William McDonald, 134. Valid votes recorded, 279. Wellington urban area: Charles Edward Huia Ball, 69 (elected); Earnest Brown-Seon, 36; *James John Clark. 43; Leslie Gordon Clark, 34; Norman Eric Dalmer, 72 (elected); Percival Fifield, 26; George Matthew, 67; John McDonald, 113 (elected); Hubert James Quinn, G 7; Nathan Richard Seddon, 108 (elected); Rosalind Sylvia Smith, 59; Harold John Barr Tomlinson. 50; Thomas Edward Wilkinson, 9; Jessie Hall Woods, 38. Valid votes recorded, 790. sitting member. POLITICAL INTERFERENCE. ALLEGED BY COL. MCDONALD. The statement that he would deal with the Minister of Education after he had vacated office on the board for what lie termed “unwarranted political interference with the election of members of the board, was made by Colonel McDonald, after the returning officer had announced the result ot the election. ~ ~ . Colonel McDonald said he held the Minister responsible for his defeat, which he ascribed to the Minister’s activities and references to him on the floor of the House when he was precluded by Parliamentary privilege from the right of reply. He alleged that the Minister had even suggested to school committees in his district that he should not be returned as a member of the boaia. “My convictions have always been honest. I have spoken freely and without fear or favour, and there is not one thing I have done which I would retract,” declared Colonel McDonald.