EDUCATION BOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23717, 25 July 1940, Page 12

EDUCATION BOARD

RESULTS OF ELECTION SEVERAL CHANGES OCCUR LABOUR PARTY INTEREST Changes in the composition of the Auckland Education Board have occurred following an election by postal ballot of five members, the result of which was announced yesterday. Those elected for three Auckland urban vacancies were Mr. M. Priestley, Mr. AY. H. Fortune and Mr. C. S. Morris, while Mr. G. S. B. Morrison, of Whangarei-, and Mr. J. Patterson, of Pukekohe, were elected to single vacancies in the north and east rural wards respectively. A feature of the election was that for the first time the Labour Party made an organised attempt to gain representation on the board, a full "ticket" being nominated for the Auckland urban vacancies. Of the three nominees, only one, Mr. Morris, was elected. Details of Voting The results of the election were as follows, sitting members being marked wjth an asterisk: — Auckland Urban Area: —Elected: Mr. M. Priestley, 198 votes; *Mr. W. H. Fortune, 176; Mr. C. S. Morris (Labour), 116. Unsuccessful: Mr. A. J. Billington, 112; Mr. L. E. Rhodes, 90; Mr. F. Hackett (Labour), 79; Mrs. I. McCready (Labour). 74; Mrs. It. M. Mountjoy, 71; Mr. A. Gilbert, 31; Mr. L. B. Inch, 10; Mr. T. F. Anderson, 6. North Rural Ward.—Elected: *Mr. G. S. B. Morrison, 505 votes. Unsuccessful: Mrs. M. Irwin, 281. West Rural Ward. —Elected: Mr. .). Patterson, 360 votes. Unsuccessful: *Mr. J. Primrose, 355. No elections were required in the east rural ward or the Hamilton urban area, the sitting members, the Hon. A. Burns and Mr. F. A. Snell respectively, being re-elocted unopposed. In the Auckland urban area two fitting members, Mr. C. R. Munro and Mr. T. U. Wells, did not seek reelection. Introduction ol Politics When the Labour Party chose its official nominees for the Auckland urban area Mr. Anderson's name was included in the ballot, but he was not selected. However, be had already been nominated, and as the ballot papers were then printed it was not possible to withdraw his name. ■several people interested in educational matters expressed regret yesterday that the Labour Party had introduced politics in education board affairs. "It is a bad thing," said one man. "Members of the board are there for the good of children generally and not for a section, and they should know no politics." Mr. Priestley, who headed the_ poll in the Auckland urban area, is a former inspector of schools in the Auckland district. Mr. Morris is the present chairman of the Newton School Committee and for many years has been associated with the School Committees' Association. Mr. Patterson, who defeated the sitting member, Mr. Primrose, in the west rural ward, is a former member of the board.