SCHOOL GATES

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 May 1922, Page 5

SCHOOL GATES

“PETER” REBUKES “JACK.” ANZAC DAY ARGUMENT. After the calm —the storm 1 The Anzac Day ceremony at the Grey Districi High School passed over calmly and successfully, but trouble was evidently only being bottled up, and the storm broke at last evening’s meeting of the School Committee. The first rumblings Tver© heard when. the secretary (Mr. J. H. Whitburn) commenced to read the correspondence, and it was seen that the heavy artillery of Air. P. Mackenzie (ex-Chairtnan) was trained on the head of Mr. J. Tennent (the present Chairman). The Committee at a meeting before the recent election invited Mr. Mackenzie to take charge of the arrangements for the Anzac Day ceremony of unveiling the school memorial gates. Mr. Tennent conducted the ceremony, “cutting out” Mr. Mackenzie, who expressed his indignation in the following terms: — “I desire to bring before the members of your Committee an irregularity on the part of your chairman, which is in the nature of a slight upon me. The facts arc as follow: At the last meeting of the outgoing committee a resolution was passed, conferring upon me the honour of taking charge of proceedings at the above function—this as a graceful tribute to the personal interest I had taken in the work in question. I submitted my plans for the occasion and on interviewing the present was coolly informed he would take yjiargo himself. Thus he was guilty of not only setting aside a resolution appearing on the minute book, but also of a breach of good manners. He could not be excused on the grounds of ignorance of such a resolution, for lie himself was present at its passing and voted for it in his capacity as a Committee-man. My programme as given to the Rector (Mr. Allison) made no provision for any speechmaking on the part, of the present Chairman nor by myself, and the speakers were requested by me not to refer to any individual’s or committee’s work. This programme was carried out with the exception of the unnecessary intrusion of your Chairman. His action would lead one to think his vanity precluded his taking an inactive part. I could easily have had the ceremony durng my term of office, but preferred to make it on an appropriate occasion. T consider, Sir, I am at least entitled to an explanation as to why this gentleman so autocratically over-rode the resolution and good taste in his desire to take to himself that which was accorded me as an honour—l am, Sir, yours faithfully, , PETER MACKENZIE. Mr. E. J. Pullen expressed his opinion in unmistakeabffi terms. "1 would like to nave a say, ’ he commenced. “Receipt of such a letter is rather hard luck in the first place, but at the same time I think that Mr. Tennent rather overstepped the mark when he took over the opening of the gates. The Committee unanimously invited Air. Mackenzie to carry out the arrangements. In face of that I do not think anybody else should, have stepped in. 1 spoke to Mr. Tennent in the morning and . asked him to let the afternoon service go, seeing that lie had taken the morning service, but he held chat as ch unman he was entitled to conduct the ceremony. I regret that this has happened. The Committee left the arrangements to Mr. Mackenzie and should have stood by him, seeing that he had done such, an immense amount of work towards’"!he gates. Two gentlemen informed me on Anzac Day that i they had been asked to speak by Air. Mackenzie, but when Air. Tennent

took charge they did not know ‘what their position was. I knew that as a result of Mr. Tennent’s action there was a certain amount of discontent. It would have been far better if he had left the matter alone. It was bound to bring trouble and the Committee do not want to be dragged into such affairs. Tn future the Chairman should abide by the Committee s recommendations. The matter reminds me of the old saying about a roostei crowing on his own dunghill, but this appeal’s to be a case of crowing on another dunghill. f entered my protest on Anzac Day, but Mr. lenJient did not accede to my request. Mr. Tennent: “Does any other gentleman wish to speak on the matter. Mr. AV. Sherratt: “1 was puzzled on Anzac Day as to why the alteration was made. Some explanation is necessary.” , Mr. J. Weaver: “I would like o hear the minute in the book on the SU The b secretary read the minute, • which stated that on the motion ot Mr. Williams, seconded by Mi ,x uilen, Mr. Mackenzie be invited to perform the ceremony of opening the memorial gates. ' - _ Mr. Weaver: “I think there more’correspondence on the matter. : Tennent: “No; that is all. Mr. Weaver: “I take it that we all recognise that Mr. Mackenzie was left ire charge of the arrangements seetag that he really brought the oree- : tion of the gates to completion. M • Tennent took charge of the functio in the morning; that was all ri it, but the afternoon ceremony should have been left in Mr. Mackenzies hands.” , Mr Pullen: “That was the general fe, "Mr. — S &retowm°’ arrangcments seemed to go on all ng, •• ~ not see why there should be fiction. _ Mr Pullen: “The morning funtion was_ a different event, altogether from that in the afternoon. Mr R. J- Williams: “When I moved that Mr. Mackenzie b? to undertake the ceremony, I did no think at all about the new committe., or the new chairman. I thought th a Mr. Mackenzie had done the business part in. connection with the gate and as he was a military man, he wou dbe the most suitable person to aiian e for the opening. I have been twitkd with favouring Mr. Mackenzie, that was not my idea.” CHAIRMAN’S DEFENCE. Mr. Tennent: “Evidently you are entitled to an explanation in the matter. I consider that so far as any slight was concerned, iA was on ino. I am the Chairman of fSfis committee and while 1 hold that position the dignity of the chair so far as I am concerned will be maintained. With all due respect to Mr. Mackenzie, take bim in his capacity as chairman, 1 am sure he would not like any person to take the responsibility out of his hands. I Consider that I was entitled as chairman to respect, not because I am__Jack Tennent. I am not so, vain as. to take such a stand because I am Jack Tennent. So far as the opening of the gates was concerned I assure you that it came as a great

blow to me to ILud that there was a certain,amount of animosity between Mr. Mackenzie and myself over the matter. I met him in the morning. He asked me if I hadjdone anything further regarding the gates, and I said ‘no.’ I saw the Hector in the morning and agreed with the plans. Mr. Mackenzie asked me what I proposed to do. I told him that as chairman —I called him Peter and he called me Jack—l would preface the matter with a. few words, and then call on the ‘ Mayor to speak. Then I would ask ’ him (Peter) to say a few words, asl ", did not consider it was right to delegate the whole function to outsiders. Peter said that was not his plan. Ho thought that.the Rev. Cuttie could I. conduct the ceremony. He then shook I his head and walked away'. The next thing I heard was when Mr. Pullen ’ spoke to me. I feel that where the digj nity of the chair is to be maintained ?itis my business to maintain it. I consider that the previous resolution t carried by the Committee was out of order. It should have read, ‘in cooperation with the chairman of the committee.’ Although I voted for the resolution I did so thinkingthat Mr. Mackenzie would have enougn tact to ’ consult the new chairman in the matter. I am quite prepared to stand any criticism, but 1 will maintain the dignity of the chair, irrespective of any person, no matter who he is.” Mr. Whitburn: “I have not had ' anything to do with the matter, but . a few questions have been put to me as secretary. It seems that there is a little inconsistency. It was decided , this evening that the committee ! should accept all responsibility for the old committee’s actions. I think that Mr. Tennent maintains the legal posi- ! tion when he attaches importance to the fact that he is chairman, but I . really believe that it would have been ' more discreet for Mr. Tennent to have left the matter alone and thus averted the present feeling.” Mr. Tennent: ‘‘There Ts no feeling on my part. God forbid! Mr. Mackenzie and I have always been friends. If there is any slight, I consider jjiat Hi is more on me than on Mr. Mackeirzie. Regarding the acceptance of liability for the outgoing committee : Is it a fair proposition to expect one body of men sitting in the dying hours of a session to pass a resolution and appoint anyone to carry out a func- . tion three, six, or twelve months hence, when they know that perhaps ! a complete new body of men would 1 be.on the committee? No Government •• in a dying session would delegate its j power to someone outside the Govern- , ment to be performed twelve' months < after that Government had died and a new Government would be in its place? It is not reasonable with all ! due respect to Mr. Mackenzie. I hope 1 the ‘Star’ reporter is not making the • most of this, because 1 do not want j it to feature in the .Press.” ; A Committee-man : What about the ‘Argus’?” Mr. Tennent: “Yes, the ‘Argus’ as I well.”_ Returning to the subject he said: “If you once over-ride the chair-man-of the committee you are establishing a precedent which will put you further into the mire than y«u have any conception of. J. feel very 1 keenly in this matter, 'amt so far as 1 the dignity of the chair is concerned i it must be respected.” 1 Mr, Pullen: “I do not quite agree ) with you. You say that the resolution was passed in the dying hours of the committee. all realised the work I Mr. Mackenzie had done in connection with the gates and we left the opening t ceremony in his hands. Every member s of the old committee realised that, . and as a matter of principle we should have allowed Mr. Mackenzie, to carry ' tho ceremony out. When the morning ceremony was over there was nothing 1 done to cover up the gates with the ■, Hags. If Mr. Tennent was in charge (] of the ceremony it was his duty to see ] that the flags were placecl-jpn the gates. That was left undone. I am not saying who was responsible for the omis- I sion.” e Mr. Tennent: “I mentioned the flags tl to Air. Williams in tho morning and

arranged to have the gates covered up.” Mr. Williams ; “That is right.’’ Mr. ITillcn: “I regret to have to say so, but I think that it was unmanly of Air. Tennent to take charge. Even if he had allowed the Rector to speak the trouble would have been avoided. You will find that every time where a. principle is involved I will stick to it.” Air. Wfijiver said that he did not know that a programme had been drawn up. He thought that in face of the committee’s resolution Air. Tennent should have taken charge of the morning function, but not in the afternoon. ’There was no doubt that the resolution on the books left the arrangements to Air. Mackenzie. The question as to when it was passed, in the “dying hours” or otherwise, was not relevant. The resolutions must be carried out, or else it would bo only waste of time to pass them. Mr. Williams: ‘Well, the ceremony was_a huge success. lam satisfied that Mr. Tennent will explain to Mr. Alackenzie, if he has not already done so. I move that we go on to the next business.” The resolution was seconded by Mr. AVeaver and carried, and' the storm subsided. Later in the meeting, Air. AVilliayns moved that the Committee record its appreciation of Air. Mackenzie’s workin arranging the successful Anzac_Day function. . The resolution was seconded by Air. Weaver and carried.