LIVELY EXCHANGES EDUCATION BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 114, 16 May 1934, Page 10

LIVELY EXCHANGES

EDUCATION BOARD

MEMBERS AT VARIANCE

HEATED DISCUSSION

There were some lively exchanges between members at today's meeting of the Education Board concerning a return which had been presented dealing with attendances at city and suburban schools. The return, which was prepared by direction of the board, occupied a position on the order paper, and was received without discussion, but .before the board went into committee to conclude its business Mr. J. J-. Clark rose to his feet and commenced to refer to tho return. The chairman (Mr. T. Forsyth): You arc out of order; you arc referring to something already decided by the board. Mr. Clark said that the matter had been received that morning. The chairman: It has been received, and there it rests. I am surprised at Mr. Clark, with his knowledge of public affairs, attempting to get round standing orders' like this. I am going to ask him to resume Ms seat. Mr. Claik: I am going to dissent from your ruling. Tho chairman: You are out of order. This is quite irregular, and it's against all public practice. Mr. Clark said that there was no resolution that the matter should be taken in committee. It had not been dealt with, and he maintained that it. should bo deal with. Mr. C. H. Nicholls said that the matter was properly put by the chairman to the meeting, and was carried. ""SVc cannot go over resolutions of tho board owing to Mr. Clark not being satisfied," he said. "I do not know what Mr. Clark was doing at tho time. He and other members of ttie board heard tho chairman, and the matter was not passed hurriedly." ' • HURRIED BUSINESS. '' Mr. Clark; It'was; very hurriedly. Tho whole business this morning has been very hurried. Mr. Nicholls: I suggest that Mr. Clark bow to the ruling of the chair and realise that this matter has been properly passed, and then, ask that the board grant him and other members permission to take any action he so desires. Colonel T. W. McDonald rose to speak. At the same moment the chair; man put the motion that the board go into committee. The motion.was lost. Colonel McDonald began to speak, but the chairman remarked that he could not allow matters to bo sidetracked. "I don't want to side-track anything, and I don't want to bo sidetracked by you," said Colonel McDonald. Ho said ho wanted to make a personal explanation. He did not hear the chairman put tho motion about the adoption of the school returns, though he accepted the statement that the motion -was put to the moeting. In view of tho importanco of tho matter ho asked that it be reinstated on the order paper if it was dealt with under a misapprehension. Mr. Nicholls: No misapprehension at all. Colonel McDonald: That's only your, opinion. , . "" Mr. Nicholls: I am going to stand to it. Colonel McDonald said that on an understanding having been given earlier in tho meeting that the matter would be discussed later, ho had sat down. Ho desired to move a motion in terms of his statement. , "Do you second that, Clark?" ho asked. "Yes," replied Mr. Clark. Tho chairman pointed out J that Colonel McDonald had asked leave to make a personal explanation, and, had then gone on to move a motion. "I rule it out of order," ho said. Colonel McDonald: You do as you like. Mr. P. Robertson said that the report was quite rightly received and adopted. Mr. Clark: It was not adopted, it was received. Mr. Robertson moved that the opportunity be given to any members to refer to the report. Colonel MeDonald: I second itTho chairman: I am afraid you cannot speak on it; you have already spoken. Colonel McDonald: But you vfould not accept my motion. RETURN "RECEIVED." The chairman said that tho return was not adopted, it was received. There was- nothing to adopt. Tho return was duly put.and received. He said that since the report was received, tho Press was . entitled to a copy, and a statement could bo. made. Members: That is what we want. The chairman: In the Press; we can't have a discussion now. Colonel McDonald said that the chairman was wrong .to impute that ho (Colonel McDonald) had. prepared a statement for the- Press. The chairman: You told me definitely that you. had two statements for the Press. Colonel McDonald: You burked the discussion. Tho chairman: You have "missed the bus." Mr. W. V. Dyer said he would second Mr. Robertson's motion.' Mr. Nicholls said that at a mooting of the appointments committee- last night he had brought up the question of certain information being handed out, and ho had accused the chairman of handing the Press information without any reference to the board. "The chairman assured mo he s was not responsible," said Mr. Nicholls. "I tackled Mr. Hylton (tho secretary), but he stated that he was not responsible. Colonel McDonald spoko up, and he pleaded guilty." Colonel MeDonald: No, I did not do anything of tho kind. I told you what T did. >tr. Nicholls: As the- result of information you handed to that gentleman AN EXPLANATION. Colonel McDonald: I handed nono to him. Colonel McDonald said he wished to mako a personal explanation. "I wish to clear my personal character," bo said. Mr. Nicholls said he had handed a statement to the Press. Hg had met a-reporter who asked him what was going to happon at tho board meeting. The reporter asked for an interview and ho (Colonel McDonald) had replied: "I will give you -nothing till tho board considers it; but I will have a typewritten copy for each member of tho Press." The chairman: I am going to stand by my ruling. Thero is no other'business. I moveove go into committee. Mr. Clark: Before wo do, I would i like- your ruling on this question: What opportunity have wo got to discuss this matter? The chairman roplied that any future action could be decided by way of notice of motion. "lam not going to allow my ruling to be questioned," he said. Mr. Clark: I maintain with all deference to you that it is still open for discussion. ■ Jho chairman^ Tho opportunity was

there, and was not availed of, and consequently is passed.

Mr. Nicholls: And you give Colonel McDonald the right to mention this in committee?

Tho chairman: Ho wants to put it in the Press."

Colonel McDonald: He wants to do it openly and above board.

Tho chairman: Colonel McDonald told mo last night he had a prepared statement; let him hand it on to the Press.

Colonel McDonald: It's his business what ho does.

Tho chairman: Well, you told mo you were going to do that.

NOTICE OF MOTION.

Colonel McDonald said ho would give notice of motion that the return be brought forward for discussion in open board. ' '

The chairman: You aro talking sense now.

Colonel. McDonald: I have talked it all along; you can't teach mo sense.

Mr. Clark said he thought it was very bad tactics to shelve such an important return for a month.

Mr. Nicholls: It shows that the two gentlemen vitally concerned wero not watching their step this morning. The board then went into committee.