EDUCATIONAL.

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 1882, 24 September 1912, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL.

THE WANGANUI BOARD

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

At the meeting of the Waiiganui Education Board last night, Mr P. ODea moved that Mr l< red. Pirani bo elected Chairman for the ensuing i year. Ho said that it was almost ' unnecessary to refer to the fact that the- high position taken by the Board in educational matters in the Dominion was due to the energy, power of organisation, devotion to the work, and capacity lor carrying through the- most complicated matters possessed by the man they all thought so much of. In saying that he was not underrating the great ability of their Chief Inspector, Mr G. D. Bruik, to whom they would always owe a deep debt of gratitude for the great worK he had done since he.had been amongst them. Only that day, speaking to Mr G. M. Thomson, jH.ir'., who held a high position in educational circles, he was told that Wanganui was in the van in education circles, and that fact was recognised throughout the Dominion. Mr D. H. Guthrie, M.P., seconded the* motion. He endorsed all the i]i«;r had said. From members in v.io House he had heard the highest praiso given to the educational work of the Wanganui district, and they all knew that to the enthusiasm, indomitable perseverance., and knowledge of the Chairman very much of thac reputation was due. iio m>gnt mention, without violating confidence, that quite recently, when the question of establishing a very important institution in connection with education was under consideration, Mr Pirani would have had a position on it had he cared to accept it. .Recently he had been surprised to notice an announcement that Mr Pirani intended to relinquish the many public XJOsitions he held, including that on tho Board, with winch he had such close- connection for nearly twenty years, and was considerably relieved to find that the latter position was to bo excepted. As a parent, and one who had been connected with education in this district since his arrival in New Zealand, ho was sure ho was only saying what was tne fact when "ho asserted that Mr Pirani's retirement would be a calamity they would find it very difficult to get over, and in that he was only voicing the opinions of parents and teachers throughout the c-uuwuwn district.

Mi- 1 ,, . Purnell pointed out that the members of the Board wore entirely unanimous in their desire that Mr 'Pirani should retain tho chairmanship. They all recognised his great ability and industry, and the time he spent in the Board's work was only known to a few of them. Ho was only sorry that they were tio» able to fix an honorarium for tho position, as it was almost too much to expect a man to do tho work without it, and ho trusted that Mr Guthrie would endeavour to get that state of affairs altered. Mr AH". Fruser said it was an anomaly that while Mayors and Chairmen of Harbour Boards could bo paid for their services, the much moro important position on the Education Board was different. Sonio two years ago ho had brought forward a motion in regard to this, and it was time something was done. He knew something of tho time and trouble spent by the Chairman of the Board in carrying out his work of the district, and they were all proud of the fact that they had in him one who had the cause of education at heart, for his re-election would bo in the best interests of Wanganui. Mr G. H. Bennett said the motion had his heartiest support. He recognised that during the current year the Chairman had borne the heat and burden of the work to an extent almost incredible. He had carried through successfully litigation of the most harassing nature, stormed at by criticism of a most dastardly kind, and yet had won the confidence and esteem of a very largo number of residents who admired his manliness and pluck. The last election .for the Southern Ward had been contested chiefly in opposition to Mr Pirani, and the overwhelming majority against those who took up that view was conclusive evidence of what the residents thought, and a complete answer to the charges made. Mr Pirani was liked by all the members of the Board, they were proud to accord him tlieir hearty co-operation, and it would be a great loss indeed if he decided to retire from the Board. They all knew how seriously his time was taken up to the loss of his private affaire, and yet they hoped lie would be able to see his way to continue to help them. Mr J5. Dixon said he strongly endorsed everything which had been said. Mr Pirani was then declared elected. In thanking the members" for their unfailing courtesy and consideration to him, Mr Pirani expressed tho pleasure it had always given him to be with them. There was no public body with which ho had been associated which was more congenial to his tastes, and it would be the last he would sever his connection with voluntarily. Ho thought they rather over-valued his services, for a tremendous amount of the success of the educational administration in the district was due to the outstanding capacity of Mi- G. D. Braik (the Chief Inspector), Mr W. Swanger (the Secretary), and the very capable staff the Board possessed. Hβ knew that it was possible to increase the efficiency of the best men by judiciously encouraging the development of tlieir talent, and to that extent he claimed some credit. His greatest aim as Chairman had been to share as much of the work amongst the different members as it was possible for him to do, and in doina that he had been able to increase the efficiency of the system and spread wider the responsibility of the Board.