THE EDUCATION BOARD SECRETARYSHIP.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1904, Page 6

THE EDUCATION BOARD SECRETARYSHIP.

fIKSICJ NATION OF MR. DORSET. At the mooting of tho Kducation Board this afternoon a letter wu.s lead fiom Mr. A. Dorhi-1 leisiguiiu? hi.s jio&iUun as fiocut.uy of the Hoard as horn the end of IVhruaiy. Mr. Dorset's connection with the Board dates back about twenty -.seven yearn — in fact, over hinc* 1 tho Hoard wa.s oon.stilufccd under the JMuwtion Act 1877. .Under tho Provincial Act Mr. C. Graham was Secretary and Mr. Lee Inspector, and when the former gentleman at the «*n'l of 1877 look Ilia position of Town ClerK of Wellington, Mr. Lee wus appointed "s'ocrctui'y and Inspector, and Air. IJot'bd, who had prevously been Auditor to the Board, entered it« M-rvieo. Jle had pievioiwly held the position nf Proviuckil Trwiauivr, and, lattr, in the Government Treasury on tho abolition of tho provinces. Jt is interesting io note that w lien in 1877 Mr. Jioi.set. audited the Bonrd'n accounts the revenue wus £34,000, while la.st year it was £68,691, and that during the interval ove"r a million and a quarter lia.s passed through the Board's accounts. From Iho time that he entered the servire of tho Board Air. J)or.«et carried out the duties of Secretary, aiid wa.s formally appointed to the position in August, 1882. During tile, pmod that he has bton connected with Ihe Board ho has witnowjed a very largo growth in the important work which it is called upon to perform Members have come and gone; teachers have been appointed and passed a\wcv ; and all have left with a lively legard and a deep respect for tho Secretary, upon whom practically the whole of the adlninustratiru wori. of the Board has l.alleu. Tho Chairman said he was sorry to heir of Mr. Dorset's decision. ' Mr. Hogg moved that the .Secretary bo requested to withdiaw his resignation, us he had Mio full confidence ol a majority of the Board, «nd that confidence lutd never been seriously challenged. He Mas respected by every one who had ever had deulings with him, and ho w.as not. a ware that his efficiency could be challenged in any way. Jlo hoped he would withdraw his resignation 'of a position, in which it would be ditlicult to replace him. 'J ho motion was (.ecnuded by Mr. Kcbbell and .supported by Mr. Feist. M,r. liobertson said no one iiad ever suggested that Mr. Dorset should resign — a proposal had merely been made that would no doubt have been diaagieoablo to Mr. Dorset. Mr. Buchanan said ho was sorry if a, matter of this sort would have to be decided by the Board by way of voto. 110 endorsed Mr. Hogg'w remarks ns to Mr. Doraet'R courtesy, but ho thought tho most satisfactory ending of tho position was the .stop now taken by Mr. Dorset. > Mr. Dorset stated thut he had decided to retire, lie (Mr. Buchanan) could only rogivl that circumstances had ans-en vhioh had brought about tho present, position. The Chuinnan therefore suggested that Mr. Uojjtf might withdraw his motion. Mr. Ho£'j: said ho thought that a vote should bo taken. Theie was no puhlif! odicer moio respected, especially in tho country dislrictn, than Mr. Dorset. Mr. Field ."aid ho should regret cxceedmgh- Mr. Dorset's retirement, hutin regard to a icmaik by Mr. KnhertMin, ho «aid he had no wish to do anything unpleasant to Mr. Dorset, and was merely anxious to, if possible, improve, the system of bookkeeping hi vogue. After further discussion Mr. Hogg withdrew his motion, as the Rsevctary would, he remarked, insist ou his resuv notion. Tho refiKiiation was then Accepted with deep regict.