TALE OF SEVEN TYPEWRITERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13456, 5 June 1907, Page 8

TALE OF SEVEN TYPEWRITERS.

: «*» — 'a disputed liability. SOME CONFLICTING STATEMENTS. [nr TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] | WHANGAEEi, Tuesday. LAn inquiry was held at the public school to determine the liability for seven typewriters which -had been purchased from the New Zealand Typewriting Company for use at the Whangarei Technical School. Messrs. George : George and Vincent E. Rice attended from Auckland, and the chairman and several members of the local School Committee were also present. Mr. D. .W. Jack, in opening the case for the committee who had been appointed to act on behalf of. the Technical School in 1905, said they had understood from Mr. George that 75 per cent, of the fees and. capitation should go to pay the salaries of the teachers, and that the commit-tee-should have the control of the remaining 25 per cent, for expenses and upkeep. He had had an interview at that time with Mr. George in Auckland, when the latter confirmed his statement. The typewriters had been secured on this understanding, but Mr.- George had subsequently repudiated - the arrangement, and demanded that 25 per cent, be paid, to the Board of Education. This had been doney and the committee were now threatened with legal action to recover payment." Mr. 'Jack produced correspondence/between -Mr./ George and , Mr. Mckenzie 1 that time superintendent of the Technical School), • proving that Mr." George, recommended the local School Committee to control the technical and continuation classes and appointing Mr! McKenzie ,i as superintendent. . Sir. Jack stated ' that friction began when Mr. George demanded a local contribution of £250, after previously asking a public meeting in Whangarei for only £100.:

-,' Mr. George asserted that he had asked for £200, but several witnesses immediately contradicted his statement. '"

Mr. Jack produced a prospectus of 1905, as authorised by Mr. George, -and including the subject of typewriting. '[ - , Mr. George said he had .never seen the prospectus ; until after it' was printed. ~'.-. ,' .J 'Mr. ; McKenzie contradicted this statement', averring that the manuscript of the prospectus ' had been amended < and signed [by'.Mr.;. George, and that this and a letter from Mr. George referring to it could be [•produced. 'V' '■ ■"•'* •'.■ .'• '.?'.•. "-;.■'-"'

i,Oh hearing this, Mr. George admitted the -fact.' ■* ■■ -' - : .;Mr." McKenzie said a mistake was made when Mr. George asked for £250 locally. The. episode' of the typewriters was • also ;a: : great blunder. In 1905 there were r-184 [.Students at', the' school, 143 occupying" free places, and >41 ; paying fees. In 1906 there (.were 127 students, 36 - paying fees and others haying free places. In (the-' present year there were only 61 attending. He 'considered this was/caused by- the Board raising the fees and the friction over the typewriter, episode. ■ •' iS The question was; asked by Mr.' Rice, "Who is now' liable for the cost of '? the typewriters?" /■.'.. * \.r .] Mr. George said the 1905 committee were. • .'"' ' •• ~' ■ 'Mr. Jack repudiated this, and held that the Board of Education were liable, as they had taken possession of the machines. They had received fees and capitation from the classes connected therewith, and had paid the teachers for instruction given at those ' classes. "•Affidavits as to their knowledge of type- ' writers *' : arid. others matters ■ "connected with the management of the Technical School were handed in to the '■ secretary of the Board (Mr. Rice) by Mr. Jack and Mr. McKenzie, to be produced as evidence at a further inquiry, to be held by the Board of Education at an early date.