HAWERA SCHOOL COMMITTEE TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 19 June 1909, Page 7

HAWERA SCHOOL COMMITTEE TROUBLE.

MR. DIXON'S VERSION. Sir,—Tho following circular letter was sent by a Hn.wcr.-i solicitor, a Roman Catholic, to different parts of tlio Northern .Ward. Father Power omitted to pubKsfh tiis in his letter:—

, "Dear Sir,—l beg to remind you that the election of a mcmbor for the Wanganui Education Board takes place nest Juno. Then] are two candidates—Messrs. P. O'Dea and E. Dixon (present member). The infusion of now Wood is always a distinct advantage, and I , would therofore bring under your notice the strong claims of Mt. O'Dea. Having been a schoolmaster under the Wanganui Education Board, ho has a good knowledge of tho duties that are required of him, and I .am satisfied that he will mate a capable member. In order to secure his return I shall esteem your support as a personal.favour, and would suggest that, in the election of your School Committoe for the ooming year you tako steps to secure your own return, and SiS many of your friends as possible 011 that body. Thanking you in anticipation.—l am, yours faithfully, When this quiot work was made known to •me by seeing ono of these letters I printed it in order that the householders might know tho move. In. some places Protestant householders had. no knowledge of the quiet' work going on, consequently when the few who usualy attend such meetings mot they found Roman Catholics in tho majority, and practically' a Hornan , Catholic- committee returned. This would have been tSie result in many other places but for the publishing of tho circular letter. There is plenty of evidence to sliow tihat the Iloman Catholics mado .it a party question, and joined hands with the liquor trade in order to win their desired cold. On the evening of the election when tho door opened there were , over 50 Kontan Catholics waiting admission; At half-past, seven fully 170 occupied the; front sc#s, Mid before the poll closed they succeeded in bringing nil sorts and conditions of humanity who would record votes in their fatiour..: Cabs were running all hours of the It would be interesting to know who paid tho bill. Tho circular letter.lwas tlio cause of the whole of-the trouble. .It was an attempt to influence .tho personnel • of' tho committee in tie interest of a'parbicularcan;didate,- instead of returning-householders who would tako' a live interest in the school.

. Father Power tries to make a great deal of the letter he published that was sent to mo about "oureducation system falling into tha 6ands of those who are "endeavouring : to undermine it." What the writer of tho, letter mosnt was that there are instances ivhero the Roman .Catholics • have started . convent stfrools and, at ono'sweep reduced the status of tlho'State school, also tho salary of. teachers. —1 :uri,ctc., .... ■ E. DIXON". Hawera, June 15. [We. would' suggest to the disputants in I>his_matter that they, can do little good by continuing this correspondence, amd they, are oztly likely to .strengthen the strong feeling which already appears to exist.]