SECTARIAN TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 231, 23 June 1908, Page 7

SECTARIAN TROUBLE.

RIYAL "TICKETS."

MOUNT COOK SCHOOL DISTRICT EXCITED. MANIFESTOES IN THE Affi, A few weeks ago' it will, be remembered \ that tho status of ! tho committee of the Mount Cook School District, elected at th« statutory meeting, was reduced to nought bj a potition signed by several householders, which indicated that sectarianism lurks in unsuspected places. The Education Board decided, aftor-'duo inquiry, that tho olection could not hold, and ordered another poll of v householders .to be taken on (Friday next. I Those who 'know something about what has been going on allege tbat thero is not tho slightest 'doubt that sectarianism is at tho bottom. of tho trouble, ■ and tho very bitter fooling." that prevails in the district lias led to recriminations on both sides that are not at all,compatible with tho a body which has so much to do 'with tho manage-. meni of a large city State school. As the day of the election approaches the feeling grows warmer, and each side or "ticket has issuod circular advice to tho householders. •As the School district affected covers a large -urea of the most thickly-populated part of ;

Wellington, it will interest many to read the published propaganda of the parties, which takes tho form of tho following-circulars "MOUNT COOK SCHOOL ELECTION GOMMITTEE. . "The Education Board having' declared the •' previous election void and ordered a new olection, householders who are m.iavour of the maintenance of tho present free,-secular, and compulsory system of education are respoctfully requested to yoto for tlio. following candidates:— ' • • Murphy. T. M. Reid, C. Lodge, J. Nolan, : B. Purdey, G. B. • • ' Callaghan, J.. J.'- ■ ■ • O'Brien, T... i Weybourne, C. Hanton, — "Remember the election takes.place at thd Druids' Hall on Friday, Juno 26, at 8 p.m. "Householders, roll up, and.;preservo your prosent magnificent system of' education m-, taot from tho assaults mado upon it bj religious extremists." Tho other document is even more interest-- N ing. After setting forth the date of the. election, it gives the time as 7.30 p.m.— half aiv hour earlier than the circular setting forth tho* candidates of the otlior colour— and thou continues: < ■ ■ "MANIFESTO. "In 6rder to "prevent''any. possible mis- , • understanding or misconception, we, whoso names aro on' this ticket, wish the resident householders in Mount Cook School District to distinctly understand that this election campaign is now being carricd out by thoso who wore tho signatories to the petition recently sent to the Wellington Education Board; and , also that we ore not in . any, sonso lindor tho auspices of tho ' New Zea-

land Citizens' Bible in Stato Schools League,' or of any othor association whatsoever. But we are solely actuated by an earnest desire ( to rectify the past and present very unsatisfactory state of 'the school management, and . also that of the increasing falling-off in the school attendance. We therefore" pledge ourselves that if elected no effort will b« , spared on our part in endeavouring to brine shout a much moro desirable condition of those matters, and for tho betterment 01 thoso tilings generally. ~ "The late committeo got into office through many, artifices. which were duly exposed in tho petition abovo referred to, and also by tho householders supine indifference, which onabled them to succeed.. So let us bo up and doing. \ , - "W© theroforo leavo it to tn© commonsensO and judgment of tho resident householders in the Mount Cook. School District to decido if the past year's committee and the recent developments have been of a satisfactory character, and if wo are going to allow such a stato of things to exist during the onsuing year. Answer by yew. votes.

- ' TICKET. Alexander Ballinpcall, 110. Austin Street. John Arthur . Chisholm, 19 Thompson Stroet. ■ ' ■ Henry Oscar Hewitt, 10. Banks Terrace, y John ITriedrich Kuch, 168 Cuba Street. Thomas S. Lambert, J.P.', 3 Arlington Street. . Thomas Henry M'Gann, 35 Tasman Street. James Robinson, 2 Cambridge Terrace. Robert Simpson, 4 Moir Street. ' Archibald Wilson, 54 Cambridge Terrace. . "Fathers and mothers, wake up to your privileges, and bv your votes; return those : moil who have tlio welfare aiid success of tho Mount Cook School at heart, keep in" out those whose interests are subversive* of Mount Cook School and essentially in favour of tho Dixon Streot Roman t , Catholio- School; to, which tlioy: now send' their children. • t • "God helping us wo shall gain the viotory!" ■ '