SCENE AT THE EDUCATION BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 545, 25 June 1879, Page 2

SCENE AT THE EDUCATION BOARD.

At the meeting of the Education Board thia afternoon, the question of paying expenses of members who came from the country was brought up. The Yen. Archdeacon Stock spoke In support of the motion for ptyi"g the country members, and incidentally mentioned that he thought the expenses of town members should be paid too. He said that every time he attended a meeting of the Board he went to Peter Laing's shop and got ninepence worth of buns. He thought that he should- be recouped this amount, for it was hardly fair that he should be called npnn to pay his expenses when be was doing public duty, espeaially when be remembered that the member* of the Board were continually being taunted by the papers with being children, and frittering awiy their time instead of doing their work. ' ' Mr. Toomath said that experience taught him that the country members who only came into town when JU suited their own purposes, and when they had occasion to do their own work, had their expenses paid, and, in fact, got all the coppers that were to be got, while the town members got the kicks, and did all the | work, but received none of the coppers. The country members had every opportunity of coming into town for the purpose of doing their own business, and getting payment at the same time. Jf the Board resolved to pay country members, he (Mr. Toomath) would at once send in his resignation. The Rev. J. Patbkson thought Mr. Toomath should not have spoken in that manner. He had no right to cast reflections on the country members who were absent. In fact, it was an unworthy action, and Mr. Toomath should not have made any such insinuation. He moved, "That the Chairman request Mr. Toomath to withdraw tbe statement he had made to the effect that country members of tbe Board come to Wellington to do their b\nt r business, and then get the coppers that are going, while the town members do all the work and get all the kicks." Mr. Toomath — I am not going to receive any lesson* In morality or Christianity from the Rev. Mr. Paterson. 1 may say that t meant no offence in speaking as I did. All I wished to say was tbat members who have been on tbe Board had their expenses paid when they came into Wellington and did their own business. I did not mean to say that they came in specially to do their own business, and took public money for doing it. Mr Toomath (to Mr. Patewon)— l knew how to conduct myselt, both as a Christian and a gentleman, probably before you were born. You shall not put words into my mouth. 1 ask members present to say whether they thought my remarks were intended to be offensive. The Chairman—l understand Mr. Toomath simply to mean that the members of the previous Board wore not bo regular in their attendance as the present members. ' The Rev. J. Paterson— Anyhow, it is a very unworthy thing to do. Mr. Toomath — I had not the slightest Intention to reflect on any of the former members of the Board. I shall be glad to know if I have done anything wrong, „ Mr. Bunny— l think we bad better let tho matter drop. i Mr. Toomath— l repeat that It was not my intention to cast any reflection on previous members of the Board, and if I have done anything wrong inadvertently, I beg to retract my words. After some further discussion, it was resolved that the country members should bo paid their actual expenses.