ME SANSON AND THE EDUCATION BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9198, 19 August 1880, Page 2

ME SANSON AND THE EDUCATION BOARD.

TO THE EDITOB.. Sib, — As Mr Sanson has written hiß ultimatum, X may conclude that he has done his best in self-defence. Writing, as 1 did, without access to the Board's minutes or even to a newspaper file, where the Board's proceedings are 'recorded, I had to trust to a tolerably vivid, though by no means infallible, recollection describing Mr Sanson's course. On this account ho has had the fullest opportunity of putting me right whereever I had seriously erred. I cannot but think, however, that just in proportion tc this advantage he had, he has enregiously failed. As regards having one Inspector in common with the Wellington Board, Mr Sanson says " There is nothing in. the resolution about having Mr Lee to inspect tbe schools in both districts," but it is quite clear that there is nothing in the resolution against this proposal. And it would have been a vory simple and much more satS" factory course if Mr Sanson, instead of assuring us that it was intended to have Mr Lee as Inspector of the Wanganui schools only, had conclusively settled this by giving the dates in connection with it, specially the date when this motion was carried at the Board, and also the date when Mr Lee was retained as Inspector by the Wellington Board under the present Act, and still more by some reference to the speeches made in support of the proposal. Mr Sanson has kept all this in the dark, but if he effectually settles this matter by adducing such evidonpe as I have indicated, I shall gladly apologise to him for the mistake In the absonco of any such proof, and with the strong porauaeion

that such proof is not to be had, I must hold by my representation as strictly correct. la the matter of the Normal schools he does not seem to perceive how his evidence fails to show that the Wanganui Board joined that of Weilington. If the intention had been to give the Wellington Board, in this proposal, the position and influence to which it is entitled by ita members and importance, there would Jiave. been a correspondence opened with'that Board, and, after securing its assent and cooperation, a joint representation made by both Boards to the Minister for Education. Instead of this -way,, of . common sense and courtesy, the Wanganui Board is asked to go alone with this proposal to' the "Governmenti" and the reference to the Wellington teachers seems put in merely as a make-weight. If the resolution on the Foxton Normal school proves anything on this point; 1 must " knowingly " hold, that it proves that the Wanganui Board did not join the Wellington one. Mr Sanson admits that cadets do the work though 'they do not receive the pay of pupil teachers, but he says that they haye the status of these. Now, with all deference to Mr Sanson's authority, it is unquestionable that they cannot have, this without passing the prescribed examinations, after which they are no longer cadets but become bonafide pupil teachers'. His statement that my " remark's respe'dting the reading of the constitution 'and rules of the Teachers' .Association are entirely false " would be much improved by a very little proof. I have now disposed of the substance o£- Mr- Sanßon'f reply, as I regard his medical and other reflections as unworthy of notice/ It has been my care to avoid extreme . statements, and any approach.. to scurrilous remarks or pensonalities. : ' I have writton for the sole object of protecting a valuab'e public trust from becoming the private hobby of one who assumes 1 * share of its management, which 1 is utterly out- of proportion. He may write of my conduct as a " mean' stab in the, dark," but I would ask Mm whether he has not done more injury to himself by his replies. Argumonts are much more forcible' than epithets. Bat I will make a confession to. Mr Sanson. Suppose he had the position of an< officer of the Board and was possessed of>,eon> siderable experience and common sense, while he discharged his duties; in the judgment of many, with conscientiousness and ability.| In such a case, if -I, as a member of the Board,, frere in 1 close intercourse with one of Mr- Sansbn's avowed enemies,.who is busy in concocting a case agains6 him for the-purpose of procuring his disgraceful dismissal, and did my utmost to help him succeed in this plot/ I do'confess that in" snob, circumstances I would .have serious difficulty in clearing myself, from; the charge of attempting a mean stab in the dark. But, the case being altered, it alters the case. — 1 am, &0.,- ■'• ■'•' -') A MEMBEE OF SCHOOLi.CbIiMITtEE.