A PROTEST FROM PONSONBY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 35, 10 February 1903, Page 3

A PROTEST FROM PONSONBY.

At last night's meeting of die Ponsonby District Schools Committee there was "a protest against the action of the Education Board in disregarding the committee's selection when appointing an assistant master. Mr W. J. Rees presided, those also present heing Messrs A. S. Russell, J- W. Stewart, G. Rainey, J- Gittos, D. J. Wright, J. H. Gregory, William Taylor and 0. J- Paw. There had been twenty-five applicants for the post of assistant master at Bayfield schc.ol, and the Education Board submitted five names to the committee. The latter selected a teacher who was not included among this number, but their decision was overrtded. '- Mr Parr therefore moved, "That this committee protests against the Board's arbitrary disregard of the committee's opinion and advice re Bayfield school assistantship, and points out that the Board has not consulted the committee with reference to Mr Kay's appointment; also, that the Board, in order to comply with the Act. should submit its choice to the committee specially for recommendation or otherwise." He pointed out that the committee were asked to meet the board in consultation, t and had made a recommendation, only j to be ignored. They ought to show in j a pronounced manner their disapproba- ! tion with the attitude of the Board. According to the Act no appointment ought to be made without first consult- | ing the committee. It seemed, there- ' fore, as if the Board, in appointing a man against the wishes of the commit- ,■ tee, were guilty of an illegal act. i Mr Stewart urged in seconding that the Ponsonby Committee were on the spot, and had the best means of know- ! ing what the needs of their schools were. It would never do to allow the Education Board to usurp their powers, j Possibly the gentleman appointed was I the best for the position, but the com- I mittee were at least entitled to be con- j suited in the matter, it was stated by Mr Bagnall that the qualification of the | gentleman selected being Dl he could not be overlooked, but in that case the qualification should be clearly stated at the outset. The Chairman was thoroughly in sympathy with the motion. He was not dissatisfied with the choice made by the Board; in fact, he thought the j candidate appointed was a most excel- j lent teacher, but he objected to the j cavalier way in which school committees J were persistently treated. The resolution was unanimously J, adopted. j