AN ELECTION INCIDENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 411, 21 January 1909, Page 4

AN ELECTION INCIDENT.

'•■- :''■'.■■ ■■*■■. '-'CZ- ■■'■.''■'{'-■■■-, ■ 1.." A SCHOOLMASTER'S ACTION. I >■ -ABOUT A CIRCULAR. :,;;. . !Bif TELEaiurn—raEss association.).. ,- : : Chrlstchuroh, January 20. _ A matter'arising\put of the Avon election inv.oh'ing of .the master at. the Bromley" Sohool came -before the Education Board at'its .meeting to-day. A letter was received from Mr. G. W, Russell,.M.P., who stated that he had noticed in the papers.. that Vat •• a recent meeting' of ■ the board, it' Was reported from the Appointments Committee that the Bromley School Committee had-passed a resolution that some charges made by the late chairman. (Mr.. Burton) were baseless. As an act of .pure justice to' Mr. Burton, ho would forward ~a letter from Inspector Gillies on the matter, a copy of'the circular prepared and distributed to the scholars at the Bromley School by the. headmaster (Mr. H. R. Wilkinson), and the report of Detective Kennedy on the matter. The police authorities held that as the' document did not contain an imitation' ballot paper it did not oome within the scope of Section 157 of ,the Electoral Act; 1908.' The. circular was a clumsily-attempted disguise at hand-writing, ■ and was circulated amongst the sobolars' on the afternoon- of Monday, November' 23, the day before, the second ballot for Avon. • "Be trusted the board would/with the documents, before-it, make a searching inquiry; into the matter. V The'ciroular enclosed read.as follows:— : , Mr. G. W. Russell once had the con- - fidenoo of the'Riccartoh electors, but in ' '1905 he was only able-to poll a poor. 679 votes' against'!2294;for Mr. Witty. '. Intelligent electors will draw their own '■' conclusions. ....'.:. Detective .Kennedy's report was v to. the effect that Mr.. Russell, .had -informed him that the'attached leaflet 'was circulated by a schoolmaster _ named ;Wilkinsori -at .Bromley, H6 saw.Wilkinson, who admitted printing .the' leaflets, which he-left on\ his desk 'and told the school, children that they',could have one each.. Several of the ' children took one, ■ herico the trouble.

Two letters from' Mr. G. K. Burton,.'for-, merly ohairman of the" Bromley' Committee,', were also read. The'writer referred to the faot.thathe was never invited to discuss any. i.charges; nor informed that there was any inquiry,, though the master was.<' Mr. Burton went'bn.'.to ;stat« that the hoard had.'apparently: agreed to 1 hear the defendant only, and though He had asked for an inquiry, and had later on asked that his letters re-j Eftrding Mr. .TClkinsbn should 'bo with-! drawn, neither course was adopted. He had explained; matters to Mr.,, Russell, who had decided to make similar charges against Mr.'Wilkinson.' . ,' '■■',;. ':..._■ ...'.: '■ The ohairmatf (Mr. C/A. 0. Hardy) said' that had already been before the Appointments Committee, and the members were exceedingly sorry.to think that one of the board's: .teachers should so. far forget his position as to issue a circular of the kind complained, 0f... He'thought the better plan would be\for: this board to refer the matter to.oiio of.tho committees to hold an inquiry if necessary.-./ ' '':-■ .':"■ ' r - ::'■-;;.;..;'':■>■: should-bofrrovived again .W He'' would not -'take from a privileges'as a citizen; but' to 'act as Mr. Wilkinson 1 had. was hardly the privilege of a citizen. :Ho' thought'it would bo better for the board to pass some resolution in the matter. '■■•: Mr. Rennie .moved, that 'thei-letter,, from: Mr. Russell should be received, and the mattor allowed to drop. He said that no Harm hadrbeen done, -for Mr. Russell.was elected in spite of the oiroular. ''■■ Tho motion was seoonded by Mr." Jameson who - ' Mr*" ; ; Dr; JlightiiSaid ithat Mr.iLWilkipspn. ha.d. undoubtedly gone outside his rights and leges in framing such, a circular,'ahd-in acting as he:,did, arid; he.:thought Mr.'.Wiikmson deserved a severo reprimand from "tho board.—He, moved, in "this.direction..:: : ■~;.;. The oh'airman said . that •'; before anything were done an.'inquiry...should., be held.-::; A committee sbpuld'be set up to deal.with the -matter.v'■':• ■!'.]'.-, ,;.'■_ .'.■■ '■■■'■ <..r 'After further discussion it.'was ..decided,'on the motion of Mr. Rennie, ; seconded by Mr. Jamieson— ; ■■■■■.•-'... ■■':.' "That Mr..;Wilkinson be reprimanded,, 1 and 4 the matter be allowed to drop."::: -. i