EDUCATION BOARD CHAIRMAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 15 August 1932, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD CHAIRMAN

HON. W. McINTYRE ELECTED EULOGISTIC REMARKS BY MEMBERS OF BOARD At to-day’s meeting of the Nelson Education Board, the Hon. W. Mclntyre was re-elected chairman Mr J. Darkness stated that some two years ago lie had, owing to certain circumstances, nominated the Jlon. W. McIntyre us chairman and he now had the honour to nominate him .again. During the past two years Mr Mclntyre had filled the posiLion with credit to himself and with a good deal of usefulness to the board. “I know of the immense amount of time he has devoted to his work as chairman of this Board,” said Mr Harkness. “It is a very fortunate thing that we have had as chairman during the past critical years, one who is most of Jiis time in Wellington and able to approach the Minister and the Department without cost to the board. That position still holds good and we should be very wrong indeed to depart from it. I suppose there is a sort of .sentimental feeling that the chairman ought to he in Nelson but I think there is a distinct- advantage of having a chairman who lives at the other end of the district. You have certain members and the secretary resident in Nelson and I think it is a splendid idea that you have one in high power who goes practically through the length and breadth of the district and who is able to investigate things as chairman better than if he were an ordinary member. Mr J. Wilkens seconded the motion, saying that he seconded Mr Mclntyre’s nomination two years ago and he thought the board did the right thing then in electing him. ‘‘Our business has gone through splendidly, as Mr McIntyre has had everything at his finger tips,” he added. Mr W. G'. Baigdnl had much pleasure in supporting the resolution. Some two years ago, he said, there was some diffidence about re-electing Mr Smith who had then been chairman for many years, and members hardly liked to depose him from the position, hut Mr Mclntyre had filled the position most admirably in the past two years. “He is very frequently in Nelson and I do not think that his residence in Westport will interfere with his duties as chairman,” said Mr Baigent. Mr F. V. Ivnapp said he would support the nomination. He thought that Mr Mclntyre had very ably filled the position of chairman. Personally he had been very pleased at- the way he had conducted the business and had kept himself in touch with the whole of tne district, and, as before mentioned, his being in constant touch with Wellington had been a great help to the board. Mr E. J. Scantlebury said he could only reiterate the other members’ remarks. The splendid way Mr Mclntyre had carried out his duties for the last two years was a matter for congratulation. ’ It was a great advantage to the hoard that the chairman could visit Wellington as expense was saved to the board when the Department or Minister had to be consulted.

Mr H. Wood said he also would support the motion. The Board had been extremely fortunate in having Mr McIntyre as chairman.

Mr F. Carling said though he had only attended one board meeting he had followed the proceedings from the papers and he knew Mr Mclntyre had been an admirable chairman. He would support the motion.

The secretary asked for further nominations and none being forthcoming he declared Mr Mclntyre duly elected, amidst acclamation. j MR McINTYRE REPLIES Mr Mclntyre then took the chair and thanked the members for their confidence in him. He said he appreciated having the members’ confidence for the next two years and it was very touching, he assured them ,to hear remarks in such eulogistic terms of himself .and his work. He knew that everything that was said was absolutely sincere and he felt that he was not really justified in accepting the fine things that were said. He could only say he had done his best. He thought the Board had been very successdnring the last two years. ’ i here was no doubt thatbeing resident in Wellington for a good part of the year and being in very close touch with the Minister had been of great advantage to him, and of course the Nelson Board and district. He had had two years very pleasant association with the board members. When he accepted the position as chairman the boards were fighting for their very existence. Since then there had been another deliberate attempt to take away democratic control but he was pleased to say that the boards had been successful in o\ ercoming that attempt. He was also pleased to say that the Nelson Education Board took a leading part. It was not in the interests of education that the board should always be carrying on a guerilla warfare with the departmental officers and no doubt a considerable amount of time had been devoted to having spars with departmental officers. That should not be necessary. We should be able to devote the whole of our time to the interests of education. “I am very proud to say,” he continued, “that in every instance that the board has taken a stand on account of the encrachments of the Department, it has been successful.” He appreciated very strongly the great honour conferred on him and was looking forward to a second term as chairman of the board. He assured members of his best efforts and said he would spare neither time nor energy in seeing that the affairs of the board were carried out on the high standard of efficieny that they had been in the past. He thanked the members for their continued confidence in him.