Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1898.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 89, 23 April 1898, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1898.

Ti is hoped that tfae last has now been heard, by the general public at least, of the unfortunate and humiliating differences wbich have made the Motupiko State school a byword and a reproach for some tinje. The decision of the Conrt in the action brought against the teacher charging him with using provoking language will bo endorsed by all who have deplored the existence fof the dispute, for, without expressing an opinion on lhe merits of the circumstanoeß one way or the other it is satisfacto-y to know that the comparatively heavy costs involved may aot as a deterrent against further Court proceedings. It is also hoped that the residents of the school district will be roused to action, and that by their vote on Monday tboy will terminate to the wrangling which has impaired the cause of education in the locality. As it was pointed out in ihese column 8 a day or two ago, the householders of the school district owe a duty* to themselves and co the credit of the province to pnt an end to tho present conditions by electing a Committee that will be absolutely impartial, and the remarks of tho Magistrate in yesterday's case should strengthen the hands of those who are endeavouring to attain this desirable end. If, however, no good and permanent result is achieved by the expression of publio opinion outside the district concerned, by the decision of a court of law, or by the process, mote or less faulty, which the householders oan apply next Monday, then the Education Board must seriously consider the stops it will have to tako to securo a Btrict observance at Motupiko of the Act it has to administer. It has been proved in the court ease which terminated yesterday that the Motupiko Committee have tho very vaguest notion oi the true functions of a school committee, and that they take advantage of local ignorance similar to their own to encroach beyond the limits set by lawj It may be admitted that the Motupiko Committee ate by no means singular in this respect, lor. there is hardly a committee in any educational dlstriot, large or small, the members of wbich do not take advantage of loosely-worJed Actß of Parliament to exceed their fuoctions. In the majority ol instances, the school teachers are so completely at the mercy of individual members of . committees that they bear interfer- \ ence and encroachment for tho eake j -

of peace and quietness, nnd henoe the general public do not hear much of the diffionlties with which they have to contend and the humilia tions they inve to suffer, often at I the hands of absolutely illiterate men. But when faots do come to light it is invariably disclosed that differ, encos and disputes between teaobers and committees are primarily caußed by the committee exceeding their functions and assuming an authority they do not possess, and which they would not attempt to exercise if tbeir duties were more clearly defined in (he statute under which they holi'office. In regard to the Motupiko trouble there is no desire to exascerbato those who are hostile to tbo teaoher, any more than it is desired or intended to ensure a triumph for those who are on his side.by directing public opinion in connection with Monday's election. The aim of tbe householders should be to choose a committee, the members of which shall be absolutely impartial if this be possible. 'J here are probably some residents in the school district who havo had nothiug to do with ihe disputes of tho last few year?, who are on friendly termsi with both sid?s, and who may be trusted to be fair to all concerned. These householders owe it as a duty to themselves, lo Motupiko, ond to the province ot large lo come forward and take part in the affairs of their sohool. It may not be practicable to elert a Committee composed entirely of these elements ; but even if a moderately strong in* fusion of them into next year's Committee cau be secured, a fairly balanced opinion may be trusted to acbievo some measure of reform. Failing such a change for the better, however, as already premised, fche Education Voard may be compellbd to intervene. In respect to the removal of the teacher to a district where his usefulness will not be impaired by such unfortunate disputes as have interfered with education at Motupiko, it was pointed out in a previous article that it is a matter for future consideration, and it may be woi'fch Ihe teacher's while to decide before long whether, for his own comfort, peace, and efficiency, a transfer would not be worth applying for. But while he is not proved in the wrong, while the emerges virtually blameless from inquiry and Court | alike, in common justice he has a right to demand that he be retained in his position till he oan say that hia removal was not duo immediately and directly to the causes which led to the institution of such inquiry and court proceedings. Finally, the moral of this Motupiko trouble is that the Education Board should do its best to compel sohool committees to keep within their proper functions, and check encroachments ns soon as ihey are attempted, at least as soon as the attempt is discovered, ' Had the Moiupiko committees of the past and the present simply done lheir duty and no more, Iho management of the school might have teen attended with as little friction between committee nnd teacher as elsewhore. Both roiirlit then havo kept lheir places, and ihus, in (he abfence of undue contact there might have been less disputation.