CITIZENS AND THE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19986, 30 June 1928, Page 14

CITIZENS AND THE SCHOOLS.

Sir —ln expressing the willingness of himself and* members of his church to help "-et a new school on a new site tor Parnell as soon as possible, Canon James comes nearer .to the spirit of sweet reasonableness than he appeared to be at the early stages of this discussion. I remember the occasion he refers to when from the pulpit of St, Mary's, when I was present, he urged the need for a new school, but that occasion is nearly three years ago, and as the canon had made no public reference to the matter since I may perhaps be pardoned for thinking he had become lukewarm in what he now states is an "important and urgent endeavour." I suggest that if Canon James gets into touch with members of the school committee, they will be able to show him how he can be of assistance. 1 am not a member of the committee. Canon James has inferred that in this correspondence I made a personal attack on him. Well, all I did in that respect was to say that he and his friends had not taken much interest in the Parnell School, or the physical well-being of the children there. May I remind Canon James that at the public meeting he addressed when the statements were made which started this discussion, he is reported to have said, with reference to our representatives: "Our present men are second rate, and I would not even rate them as high as that on a point of character." Men who make such statements have no right to complain if the replies do get a little direct. Thomas Bloodwokth.