Awanui.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 38, 7 May 1907, Page 7

Awanui.

A Disorderly and Stormy Meeting. (From our own correspondent.) The annual meeting of householders was held in the schoolhouse on Monday ovening, 22nd nit., for the purpose of receiving a report of the transactions of the committee for the year ending 31st March, which from current rumour were extremely erratic. A stormy meeting was anticipated, and as the hour announced for the meeting approached it was apparent that unusual interest was involved, as the several factions met in strong force. Punctual to the minute the doors were opened, and in less time than it takes to write it the building was crammed with eager spectators, by no means confined to householders, and round the windows outside groups formed, anxious to get a glimpse of the proceedings going on inside. Mr. Fred. Bussell, the Chairman of the outgoing committee, proceeded to take the chair. This was objected to, knowing that friction existed between the Chairman and Secretary, and it was thought desirable that an unbiassed chairman should be elected to preside at the meeting. To this proposition Mr. Bussell objected, and persisted in addressing the meeting. He could not, how--ever, succeed in getting a hearing, the crowd being equally determined to elect a ohairman of their own choice, and here the fun commenced. The ladies present called it rowdyism, and they were present in large numbers. Almost every house in the district for miles around was represented. Eventually the Secretary (Mr. Claudet) took the chair pro tern. Three names were after considerable trouble proposed and seconded to aet as chairman, viz., L. H. Claudet, T. Walker and 1. Williamson. F. Bussell was proposed, but no one was beard to second this proposition. However his name was submitted to the meeting, and a show of hands taken for each! nominee, but owing to the crowded state of the building it was quite impossible to distinguish householders and those entitled to vote from outsiders, and although seveipl counts were taken no two were the same. Mr. Williamson demanded a ballot, and was strongly supported in this demand. Notwithstanding this Mr. Bussell jumped into the chairman’s place, saying that he was elected to the chair and refused to vacate it. An altercation then took place between Mr. Williamson and Mr. Bussell, the latter declaring that he was elected, while the former vehemently contended that Mr. Claudet was still chairman until the result of the ballot decided the question.

At this stage of the proceedings the meeting was uncontrollable. Donnybrook could not be compared to the uproar and turmoil.- As it was quite impossible SESSf, re-established Mr. Williamson asked the ch«p4nii!i*a appeal to those who had any self-respect u> leave the meeting as a protest against the arbitrary and ungentlemanly conduct of Mr. Bussell. He succeeded in putting this to the meeting, when nearly all the householders left in a body. A few remained behind, but the greater number were Maoris, no doubt taken for the purpose of dominating the meeting. Under these circumstances Mr. Bussell proceeded to elect a committee of his own, resulting as follows ;—Fred. Bussell 31 votes, H. Claudet IS, Joe Smith 17, Apera Waka 16, Hoepa Paraone 13, Eichards 14, Subritzky 14. After this bogus election the chairman was unable to gel a quorum to hold their first meeting to appoint their officers as required by the Education Act, 1904. His two Maori friends only remained, and one of these—Apera Waka —is serving on the committee of the Waipapakauri Native School, consequently is not eligible for election to serve on a second committee. It is also questionable if Mr. Bussell is not barred from taking any part in an election of a committee other than at Waipapakauri, because he resides six miles distant from the Awanui school and his children attend the Native school near his own place. lam told, too, that he took part in electing that committee, and the Education Act states very distinctly that a householder cannot exercise the right of move than one vote, however many he may possess. The householders re-assembled after the dispersion of the first batch, and proceeded to elect a committee in conformity with the Board’s Eegulations, and the result was as follows :—Claudet 51 votes, Atkinson 51, J. Hansen 47, Wilkinson 3-1, Fred. Spaiihake 34, Boy Spanbake 33, and Williamson 33. This committee held their first meeting the same evening, when Mr. L. H. Claudet was elected Chairman for the ensuing year and Mr. I. Williamson Secretary and Treasurer. Comparing results, the highest number of votes recorded for any one candidate Claudet’s ballot 51, Bussell’s ballot 31; total aggregate Claudet’s ballot 283, Bussell’s ballot 125 less 30=95. The lowest number of votes recorded for any one candidate: Claudet’s ballot 33, Bussell’s ballot 14. This shows two votes in Claudet’s for every one in Bussell’s ballot. One more factor has to be taken into consideration in this computation, that would still have increased the discrepancy —a number of ladies went away in disgust at the first dispersion of the Meeting, declaring that they were pleased to get away from snch a rowdy gathering, as it appeared that mob rule had taken the place of law and order. A petition signed by nearly every householder interested in school matters in this district has gone forward to the Board of Education, asking that it may exercise its prerogative by declaring that the first and irregular proceedings are rejected and not carried, and that the poll resulting in the election of the seven names submitted, together with the officers, be declared a committee for the ensuing year. As an honourable Board we feel sure that they will veto such mob rule with no uncertain sound. We are determined that no unfair inducements will be offered or accepted to violate the result of these annual elections, with impunitv, and snch cunning tactics as resorted to by supplying European names to Jlaoris for the purpose of deceiving either the Board of Education or the public will be rigorously resented, irrespective of whom it may he practiced, and my excuse for this encroachment npoti your spgce to snch an extent is that the interests of the public demand it. March 29th, 1907.