CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 12, 14 January 1881, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EdITOB OP THB " EVENING MAIL." Sir — The paragraph m your paper containing the proceedings of the Education Board respecting a letter sent by mo does not fairly represent its contents, and as it is a matter of considerable interest to tbe School Committees and to tbe public m general I shall feel obliged if you will allow me m your columns more clearly to state its purport. The Education Board consists of nine members, three of whom retire annually but are eligible for re-election. They are elected by the votes of the School Committees of the dietrict. Each Committee is called upon m January to nominate two persons as candidates. The list of names is then forwarded to the various Committees, who have power to yoto for three members. Tbe Committees bare lately received a circular from the Board giving the names of the members who retire, and stating that it is not only the privilege but the duty of the Committee to nominate two candidates. This so far is right and just, but a difficulty arises to know whom to nominate. Most of the Committees would prefer to support those gentlemen who bare preyioualy given their time and services, providing they were satisfied with their acts and votes. But it appears that as the Board at present regulates its proceedings no record is kept of the votes of members individually, and only a general summary of its acta is given to the public. The ( ommittee of 88 Valley school are unanimously of opinion that the action of the Board during the past year m certain matters affecting the school has been vacillating, procrastinating, and highly injurious to its interests and prosperity, and they desire to ascertain how those membsri who Are retiring and who seek re-election voted on those occasions, The letter sept to tfce

Board asked for information— first, whether the meetings of the Board were public, as are the meeting! of School Boards m England} secondly, whether, any public record is kept of the votes of the members on all divisions (as is' also dbne m England); thirdly, if the meetings are private, and no record is kept of individual vote*, whether there is any other way by which the constituents of the members can ascertain how their representatives vote oa any particular question. Your paper contains the answer given by the Board to theae queries It is evasive, and shirks the whole question. Our Committee consider it so unsatisfactory that they have resolved unanimously not to nominate br votfe for any feandidite who ia not m favor of the votes of members being recorded and accessible to the Committees, and they hope the various Committed of the district will agree with them m this matter, and obtain a like pledge from the candidates ere they vote for them; In all our rural districts the most important and independent act the Committee have to do is the electidn of representatives 6n the Education Board. Reside* this they ate little else than faociionariea to carry oat the orucTs oj tne Board. It is therefor* of the first importance that tbey should have the fullest possible information of how their members act and vote, not only collectively but individually. Tobecailed upon to elect a representative to act for jou for, thr«e years and during that time to be unable to ascertain if he has represented or misrepresented you ia an utter absurdity, and oppoitd to the practice, and diametrically at variance with the spirit of. all free representative institutions, and will not, it is hoped, long be allowed to continue the pf active of; the Kelson Edu cation Board.— l am, &c,; Thb Chairman of 88 Vaxlbt School Committee,