Evening Post. THURSDAY, APEIL 28, 1881.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 98, 28 April 1881, Page 2

Evening Post. THURSDAY, APEIL 28, 1881.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION BOARD. «. There were some very peculiar passages at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board. It may be retorted that this is not at all an uncommon occurrence in regard to the proceedings of that eccentric body, which, owing to the remarkable ideas entertained by its still more eccentric chairman as to the manner in which the business of a public body should be conducted, is constantly affording subjects for the ridioule of the frivolous. Yesterday, however, both the Board and the Chairman were even more eccentric than usual, and the result was exceedingly interesting. The meeting was the first of what is practically a new Board, the little farce by which newness is supposed to be annually imparted having been duly pone through since the previous meeting, resulting, as a matter of course, in the re-election of the three " retiring members." However absurd and farcical may be the system of election provided by the Education Act, and however certain it renders the re-election of the retiring members, the fact remains the same that the Board is supposed to be a new one, and to make a fresh start in another year's proceedings. When the Board met yesterday, therefore, the members all attended undsr a pleasing sense of excitement in the idea that they had to elect a chairman for the ensuing year. They took their seats, and watched with eager interest for the election, with its enlivening accessories, to begin. But what was their bitter disappointment, amounting to absolute dismay, when the Hon. C. J. Phabazyn calmly took his seat as usual, and at once plunged in medias res— or, in other words, commenced on the order paper — the " agenda " paper, as it is more classically, if somewhat affeotedly, designated by the Board. There was an instant exclamation of horror and a simultaneous protestation on the part of the members against this course, all insisting that they must elect a chairman before going on with any other business. Mr. Phabaztw looked up with an admirable appearanoe of surprise, and placidly responded that they were under some strange misapprehension, as they had elected him chairman several years ago, and, therefore, he had a right to stick to that chair during tho term of his natural life unless he ceased to be a member of the Board. He assured them he had not the slightest intention of giving up the position in which, he maintained, they had permanently installed him. This was a terrifying declaration, for the Board has so long groaned under the incubus of the honorable gentleman's singular incompetence as Chairman, and his unequalled powers in muddling everything — so that nobody ever knew what was or was not done by the Board— that they had long been hoping and praying for the speedy advent of this blißsful opportunity to get rid of him and instal a more capable successor. It will be recollected that within the last few months Mr. Phabaztn actually insisted on taking a case into Court on behaff of the Board, and also on acting as the Board's counsel, with the inevitable result that he involved it in heavy expense, and brought both himself and the Board into ridioule and contempt, while another time he took it on himself to stop the payment of a sum voted by the Board, on the ground that he differed from the other members. His double vote — deliberative and casting — necessarily gives him almost supreme power in a body whose meetings are often thinly attended, and of which one of his family is also a member. Indeed the Chairman has only to tire out a meeting by confusing and muddling the business until most of the members leave in weariness and disgust, and then Messrs. Phabazsn and Son, having three votes between them, could always outvote any two other members who might stay to make up a quorum. This sort of thing has gone on too long to suit the patience of either the Board or the public, and the chanoe of getting rid of the " old man of the sea" waß too precious a boon to be lightly yielded. And so the members insisted on their right of electing a new chairman, Mr. Bunny going further, and asserting- that a change was very much needed. On this Mr. Phabazxn made the astonishing observation that he should retain the chair, because he held strong opinions regarding the Education Act, and would decline to work it as an ordinary member. Mr. Hutchison might well remark that he was unable to follow Mr. Phabaztn 's reasoning. It would puzzle anyone to understand why the Act should be less objectionable to Mr. Phabaztn as a chairman with two votes than as a private member with only one. However, he told the Board plainly that he would not go out of the chair unless he were turned out, and in that case he should resign his membership altogether. Tho other members courteously endeavored to conceal their delight at this last possibility, but remained firm in their attitude against allowing the chairmanship to be an appointment for life. Mr. Bitnnt feelingly asked how they were ever to pet rid of » chairman unless there was an annval election, to which Mr. Phabaztn rejoined that the only way was for him not to be re elected as a member of the Board on his triennial retirement. This being a matter over which the Board, of course, can exercise no control, the suggestion was not favorably received, but Mr. Phabaztn clinched his argument by stating that the Gas Company did not elect a chairman annually. This illustration elicited some merriment, not on] account of the appositenesß of the " gas " illustration, but because it was not forgotten that Mr. Phabaztn's officious meddling aud muddling had not very long ago caused the abrupt termination of his chairmanship of that company. Ultimately the discussion did not get beyond the point at which it began. The members insisted on their right to elect a new chairmr n, and declared their intention to do so. Mr. Phabaztn repeated his determination to stick to tho post until bodily turned out, and, in that case, to resign his membership of the Board. Perhaps he could not have offered a stronger inducement to his colleagues to remove him from the chair which he is so utterly unqualified to fill with advantage to the pubtio interests. We oannot suppose for a moment that the

members of the Board will be intimidated by this highly indecorous threat into retreating from the position they have so properly taken np. It was assuredly he ver v contemplated that a chairman should be practically immovable. The Act distinctly says that every Board elected under its provisions " shall at its first meeting, or as coon thereafter as conveniently may be, elect one of it 3 number to be Chairman," and it provides for the annual reconstitution of the Board by the retirement and re-election of onethird of its number. However ridiculous and farcical may be the process of re-election, it nevertheless is a legal reality, and the , Board thereafter becomes a new one, requir- ' ing to elect, at its first meeting, a Chairman for the year. Mr. Phabazyn's contention is, therefore, utterly untenable, and tha members of the Board will bring themselves into universal contempt if they allow themselves thus to be " bounced" into submitting to the perpetual usurpation of the chair by an occupant whose incapacity to conduct the business has long been a subject of general derision. We cay nothing of the execrable tast«» of Mr. Phabaztn's attitude in the matter, and of his declared intention to retain the chair against the strongly-eipressed wish of his colleagues. That is sufficiently obvious, and needs no comment.