THE LATE ELECTION FOR KOWAI PASS SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6536, 7 February 1882, Page 6

THE LATE ELECTION FOR KOWAI PASS SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

TO TUB BDITOB.

Sib, —With your permission, I should like to make a few remarks on the subject which forms the heading of this communication. The Kowai Pass is a very old district, and during the past twelve years the householders at each annual election have endeavoured to appoint intelligent Committees to further their interests in the important cause of education. Up to’ the present their efforts have been crowned with a tolerable measure of success, although they have had serious difficulties to contend with at times through the appointment of inefficient teachers. y- : The school is at present one of the most important in the North Canterbury Educational District, and maintains a staff of four teachers. I am of- opinion, and I think the Aot implies, that the Committee elections should be decided by the householders and parents of children. This has always been the ease formerly, but “ a change has come o’er the spirit of our dream" and several of the present Committee were elected by a clique, a large percentage of whom, as I understand it, had no qualification whatever to vote at the election. There was an attendance at the election of close on 150 people, comprising several ladies whoso husbands were alive and in the district, and who, consequently, were not entitled to vote, but who did vote, and several railway employees who live in one hut also registered their votes. Our Stationmaster at Springfield was at the head of the poll, and, coupling this with the last paragraph, I think the inference is obvious. One gentleman (a successful candidate), during the time of the election ruled, and the meeting agreed, that the candidates should not bo allowed to

appoint (heir ova soputineeri. If thii gentle* man, who, by-the-bye, wu afterward* elected Chairman of the Committee, doei not nosiest a better knowledge of education matters than of the routine of elections, I am afraid that in this reipeot he will not be much of an acquisition to the Committee. The general opinion waa that a change in the Committee wu highly desirable for many reasons. And this was the desideratum wished for by the bond fide voters, but I am afraid that in trying to nroid Soylla they hare struok on Oharybdii.—•lam, &o D A QUALIFIED ELEOTOH.