SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3796, 28 April 1891, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

MASTERTOJST SCHOOL.

The annual-meeting of householders of the Masterton district was held in the Theatre Royal last evening, about 200 persons being present, including a number of ladies. The chair was occupied by Mr E. Feist. Messrs A. Hathaway and J. L. Murray were appointed scrutineers. After a little preliminary skirmishing between Messrs Renall, Hogg, Hooper, and tho Chairman as to the method which should be adopted for dealing with the votes recorded during the day, the Chairman stated that he would follow as far as possible the reading of the Act, and proceeded to remove the names attached to the ballot papers, which occupied about halt an hour. The report and balance-sheet were then read by the Secretary. The Chairman moved the adoption of the report. Mr W. Prangnell seconded.

Mr W. Lowes asked who was responsible for the report, the School Committee or a sub-Committee. The Chairman stated that the report emanated from the Committee as a whole. Mr Lowes then asked how it was the report stated that there was a debit balance at the commencement of the year whilst the balance-sheet showed there was a credit balance of 8s 2d.

The Chairman replied that that was a matter for the Secretary to explain.

Mr Lowes then referred to that portion of the report dealing with the grants of the Town Lands Trustees. He maintained that the Trust had from the beginning offered the Committee monies for specific purposes, and it was only at the end of the year this offer had been taken advantage of. He considered that there were serious discrepancies between the report and the balance sheet presented. The Committee had treated the Town Lands Trustees mojt unfairly. They should have attested vouchers to show what mouies had been receiyed. It was only proper that the Trust should see that the monies granted were spent on the specific object for which they were voted. It was because the Committee did not state what thoy wanted the money for that they did not get it before the end of the year. There were certain monies granted to the Committee which were unaccounted for in the report. He would suggest that the report be referred back to the Committee for amendment. He would ask if the Act had been complied with in the ballot taken during the day. Papers had been given out indiscriminately, and he would ask if this was in accordance with the Act.

The Chairman stated that the papers were quite in accordance with the Act if attested by a Justice of the Peace, a schoolmaster or a postmaster.

Mr Lowes moved as an amendment to the resolution that the report be referred back to the Committee so that it might correspond with the balance-sheet.

Mr Renall seconded the amend' nient.

Mr Pragnell asked how a vote was going to be taken in a mixed meeting.

Mr Lowes stated ho was not responsible for the conduct of the meeting.

The Chairman ruled Mr Praognell out of order. Mr G. Dixon asked if some of the old members of the Committee were not in a position to reply to Mr Lowes' queries. The Chairman stated he had given a reply which he considered sufficient.

Mr Marsh: Where is Easthope, he wrote tbe report ? (Laughter.) Mr Easthope then mounted the stage amidst cheers, and referred to the action of the Town Lands Trustees. He maintained that the funds of the Town Lauds Trustees should be administered so that the greatest good would accrue to the greatest number. Tbe funds of the Trust should be expended on education. The Masterton school had an endownment, and he maintained that they should take tbe fullest advantage of it. Mr Lowes rose to a point of order: Mr Easthope : I thought it would fetch him when I made it warm (laughter.) The Chairman stated that Mr Easthope was speaking to the amendment.

Mr Easthope, proceeding, maintained that the school should have received its ordinary grant, The Chairman had dragged a bogie before the meeting. The Trust had refused to expend money on the school buildings. The school and the money belonged to the people (Cries of "No.") This was not a place to bring forward the question of the action of the Trust. When the time came for the election of the Trust he would be prepared to challenge what had been done. (Cheers). Mr Renall stated that Mr Easthope had made a capital speech considering he did not know what he was talking about. ('Laughter. —Mr Easthope : I know as well as you do.) He (Mr Renall) maintained that the school was the property of the Education Board. He then proceeded to refer to the liabilities of the Trust to the town, but was interrupted by cries of He did not think the report submitted was a fair one. Mr Daniell stated that in dealing with Mr Lowes they were dealing with a clever and shrewd man. Mr Lowes represented the Town Lands Trustees, arid he was getting the little men around him to do what he told them? The question was whether the Trustees should dictate to the Committee how they should expend

their mouey, or expend it themselves. Mr Lowes had told him personally that if they wanted eigbteenpence to mend a window in the school they had to come to him to get it. He did not think this proper. Mr Lowes stated that he had replied to Mr Daniell that if they wanted money to mend a window or stop a leak they should apply to the Government. That was the proper body. The grant this year was only £5 less than last year. (Mr Easthope : Nonsense), He maintained this was

so. He then referred to the expenditure of the £3l on the cadet fund. (Mr Prangnell: Who expended it ? Mr Eastjjope: Mr lienall and Mr Hogg!) He (the speaker) did not care \yho expended it. JS the money vented had been applied for six months ago it would have beeo received. The Trust was <juUp prepared to grant money for any purpose other than for the repair of Government property. The amendment was then put and declared carried amidst applause. I

Messrs Easthope and Daniell chaHengeaThe ruling of the Chairman.

The Chairman stated that he would take the vote on the amendment again. Mr Price objected, and the Chairman therefore declared the amendment carried.

The ballot was then taken, with the result that Messrs E. Feist, <"!. E. Daniell, W. G. Beard, Z. M. Hoar, W. M. Easthope, W. Perry, and J. Williams were declared elected.

The following are the numbers of the votes recorded:—

E.Feist 177 C. E. .Daniell 169 W. G. Beard 148 Z. M. Hoar 189 W. M. Easthope ... 188 W. Perry 122 J. Williams 110 M. Williams 108 H. E. Eton 101 W. Prangnell 94 E. Burton 77 S. E. Gapper 76 G. W. Woodroofe ... 68 W. Blinkhorne 42 J.W.Leahy 31

The Chairman, and Messrs CE. Daniell and W. M. East hope returned thanks for the position in which they were placed, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings. At a subsequent meeting of the newly-elected Committee, the standing orders of the old Committee were adopted, and Mr E, Feist was chosen Chairman for the ensuiug year. TENUI. Considerable interest was taken in the annual election of the School Committee. About thirty householders met in the schoolroom last night, Mr A. Stewart occupying the chair. The following is the result of j the poll: J A.T.Hancock 27 R. Langdon 27 A. Speedy.. 26 C.J.Norton 21 W.Armer 21 T. Stilborn 20 A. Nichols 12_ H. Belhss 18 i W. Knight 14

The first seven were duly elected. A meeting of the newly elected Committee was held directly afterwards, when Mr C. J. Norton was elected Chairman and Mr A. T. Hancock Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. There was no election at the Whakataki and Grassendale aided schools.

EKE TA HUN A. The following is the result of the Eketahuna School Committee election : -- Magnus Neilsen ... 28 William Bowse 25 Thomas Bajliss ... 26 Maunsell 26 Timmin's 22 Carter 22^. Polling 21 Neils Neilsen 18 The first seven were declared duly elected. Thomas Bayliss was elected Chairman of the new Committee. PAHIATUA. Dawson 80 Reese 28 Vile 27 Black 24 George Moore 24 E. Naylor 28 H. Sedcole 23 P. D. Wilson 18 F.G.Moore 12 W.J. Reeve 8 At a subsequent meeting of the Committee Mr Job Vile was elected Chairman. OTHER SCHOOLS. Mauiucevili,e—G. Gundersen(chairman), P. Anderson, W. Chisholm, C, Forsberg, M. Jansen, P. Larsen, N, Rasmussen.

Parkvale.—E. W, Dorset, Oates, Dalrymple, Anderson, Horrobin, Lorensen, Johnston. Featherston.—J. G. Cox (chairman), W. Toogood, W. Benton, D. Smith (secretary,', 0. Cundv, W. Hodder, J. Nielson. Carterton.—Joe Appliu, W. P. Allen, James Stevens, H. Robinson, W. Moore, G. W. Deller, W.J. Lindop.

Belvedere.—J. T. Manning, R. Butler, E. Eagle, G. Burnett, G. Stevens, J. Anderson, J. Sunnex. ClareviCiLe.—S. Foss, J. Smith, A. DeLacey. G. Gaskin, W. B. Allen, J. Ranby, EL MacPhee. Mangatainoka—Wills, Rose, Reid, Rjbinson, Quarterman, Trengrove, Walthers. Mr Wills was elected chairman.

Taueru.—E. 0. Smith (chairman), F. R. Davy (treasurer;, A. Manning (secretary), J. Taplin, McKenzie, A. Smith, H. Smith. Gbevtows.— Messrs L. St. George (chairman), R. Black, D. Duff, H. S. Izard, J. G. Fildes, A. L. Webster, and H. Udy..

Matarawa.—Messrs A. Gallon (chairman), R. G. Welch, J. Jones, T. Zillwood, W. Salelo, F. Tarrant, and W. Gosling.