CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10046, 5 February 1896, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

EDUCATION BOARD ELECTION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— had intended to treat with the contempt they merit, the gross mis-state-ments of your correspondent Mr. W. Woodward in your columns, but his continued use of my name compels me to protect myself. It is generally believed that a bull will rush at a red rag, whenever, aud wherever, the danger signal appears, and I have come to the conclusion that, to Mr. Woodward, I am of scarlet hue. In Mr. Woodward's letter of the 27th January he makes this assertion: " Wo (the Board) were compelled to postpone extensive oparations at Chapel-street School, Auckland, in order that further works in the couutry may be undertaken." This is entirely untrue, and Mr. Woodward knows it is untrue. Chapel-street enlargement was declined, because the lowest estimate for the work was nearly double the estimated cost. I shall only notice one other matter in Mr. Woodwards first letter—the aided schools' iniquity. It was not only proposed, but oarried lately, that a sum of upwards of £3000 per _ annum should be saved from schools naving an average attendance of 200 and under. Mr. Woodward was at the time a member of the Board. Let him tell the public how he acted on that occasion. If a saving is urgently required— I believe it is—then |lct the Board have the manliness to operate on salaries which can well afford reduction, and not on the incomes of the woalc ana' helpless. I am not disposed to waste my own time or your space in noticing thehalf-truthsauddistortedquotations, which are worse than direct falsehoods, with which Mr. Woodward's letter fairly bristles, but will proceed to look at his letter of yesterday. In August, 1892, says Mr. .Woodward, a scheme was submitted to the Board by Mr. Mtiirand another member, having for its object, the increase of tha inspectors' salaries. This is not true. I always, on every occaaiou, con- : sistcutly opposed increases to inspectors and ' other officials. When Mr. Woodward gets to tliopflewbmeut} of Cbief luacwtoftt k»

inspector, but I did not vote for •' chic < 1 £600 a year. I proposed? h > I at the same time what I conlwlr ' ba ' ft quate salary. I also 1 vices of one of the other insn™?« Il l * et - I be dispensed with. Had th?, ° u( l I been carried out, there would hawT" 1 I no additional expense to ti,« t> ea K I would point out that, in hi* 1 , rd - K the school committees, Mr Vm,i» 7 ■ that if at any time his wife JW I were under consideration of th« re,t ft would leave and allow his brother ,i 1,6 I to settle the matter. On at l«« , emt)er « § > eions Mr. Woodward, to rat i, w l ' * forgot his pledge ; but it is well knLTi y 'i are some people who possess such aT re tion for the truth that they decline ft , r4 " ' to oommon use.-I am, etc., J Ailt3 Mit TO TIIK EDITOR. Siß,Wil] you kindly allow me»„ „ space in reply to your correspondent I,®* 1 !; Woodward, in today's Hirald i V ' inform Mr. Woodward that whether may information is correct or not he In, J l " 7 carefully avoided replying to the J* 1 points of my letter, but has indul Ju" I verbosity ill discussing side issues and m j"" H I points. I maintain that my information 0 ,!! 1 1 correct, and that jountry settlers h I suffered at the hands of a physical m »j,S g on the Board. I scorn theatttmDttofnr.k ' SI the interests of myself or my friends t 1 | indulging in personalities or mali-»nin c iV 1 actions of anyone. _ An honest criticism |'f 1 the Board previous policy wa , all } 1 attempted. I leave the personal attack, I and questionable motives to that geiitlemm I who has expressed his desire to see " mod P men aud true" elected to the Bond p With regard to my being known i„ 1 the province of Auckland, I nu _ I state that I have carried on business p In Auckland as ft wholesale imports I ill Auckland for over six years, and am I supported by customers who are on school i committees from almost all the centres 1 within the province of Auckland, ami [ 1 believe my character is such that I need not say I anything on my own behalf, even though j § very much interested individual docs attempt (3 to defame it. I again deny that I have ever I attempted to make misleading statements I and trust Mr. Woodward oau truthfully Sil y the same. Although carryiug on busmen i a Auckland and residing at Epsom my sym. pathiee are with country nettlers, ami the party on the Board whose efforts are directed towards securing general fair play in tin distribution of educational funds in tht Auckland Province. From the result of tin nominations it would appear to me that country committees are not inclined to h( dictated to as to whose banner they wj[ fight under, but will leave Mr. Woodward B to continue blowing his own trumpet, f o | 8 which he seems especially Rifted.— am, 1 etc., H. F. L'oopes ' I Craigneish, Epsom, February 4,1896. H