PUBLIC MEETING AT THE LOWER HUTT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 741, 14 May 1886, Page 11

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE LOWER HUTT.

SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST A SCHOOLMASTER. A meeting of householders was held at the Lower Hutt schoolroom Monday night to consider what action should be taken regarding the statements which had been current concerning the conduct of the headmaster of the Lower Hutt School. There was a good attendance, and Mr S. Smith was voted to the chair. The Chairman stated that the meeting was an adjourned one from last week. They had all heard the rumors current about improper conduct on the part of the master of the school. The old School Committee had in vestigated certain charges, and made recommendations to the Education Board which were not carried out, in consequence of which the Committee had resigned, aud a new Committee had been elected in their stead. The meeting wished to know something of what had transpired, and now was the time for an explanation to be made. Mr W. A. Fitzherbert (Chairman of the new Committee) said his Committee were not willing to read the evidence of the charges that had been made for fear of laying themselves open to an action for libel. In order that the householders should not be disappointed, he was willing to hand over a copy of the original evidence, which had been forwarded to the Committee by the Board of Education, to any member of the late Committee who might wish to read it over to the meeting. The original copy of the evidence was sent in to the Education Board. Mr Brown said the old Committee had placed the new Committee in a peculiar position. They had sent in their resignation to the Board in consequence of their recommendation not being adopted, and had made verbal statements of what had taken place, but had not fully explained the matter. As far as the Committee was concerned they had no power whatever, for everything must go to the Education Board. - , _ Mr Dimant, secretary to the late Committee, said with regard to the report there was no doubt that it should be read to the meeting. He could state what was in the report as to the charge against the head master, but he did not wish to bring it up. If a question were asked him by l'esolution of the meeting, he was quite prepared to answer it, action or no action. When the new committee was elected he handed over all the papers and documents to that committee, and thought their responsibility ended there. Mr Everest: Will you read that report over to-night ? , 1 Mr Dimant: It has passed out of my hands. The Chairman : I take it that the householders met to-night to hear this report. On behalf of the householders, I wish you to read it. Mr Dimant: What do you call the report ? The Cnairmrn : That is what we want to know. (Laughter.) Mr Fitzherbert said he would hand a copy of the report over to the meeting, hut he would not take the responsibility of reading it. Mr Caverhill said he was one of those who complained of the conduct of the master, and knew what the evidence was. He thought the matter was in the hands of the householders, and they should have the report. Mr Fitzherbert said the evidence was in the hands of the Education Board, and therefore was not the property of the Committee. If the report got into the public prints the Committee would be responsible. The original document, together with letters and the report upon the evidence taken, was in the hands of the Education Board, and the Committee were not going to lay themselves open to an action. The Chairman : Do I understand that the evidence taken by the old Committee was sobad

as to be unfit for the householders to hear. (Hear, hear.) I know nothing about the evidence, but I have children going to this school, and I say I have an undoubted right to know if they are being treated in a proper manner or not. A long discussion ensued as to whether the minutes of the Committees should or should not be read, during which Mr Dimant said he was one of seven members of the old Committee, and would not take the responsibility of the whole seven. Charges were made against the master of the school, _ and an inquiry was held and children examined. The Committee came to a unanimous conclusion, and their verdict was sent to the Education Board. The Board reversed that decision, and the Committee resigned. Mr Cudby said he belonged to the old Committee. The school got on well until recently, when parents of the children made complaints to the Committee. When the report was sent in to the Education Board, Mr Blair and Mr Lee came up. The Committee were not satisfied with the decision of the Board, and resigned. Mr Brown : Did not you consider it your duty to call the householders together before resigning ? Mr Cudby : No, we had no power whatever.

Mr Bunny, secretary of the new Committee, said his Committee had not gone into the matter. They had received all the documents, but the Education Board had sent a memorandum to the Committee, stating that they had fully considered the charges made against the master, and found there was nothing in them. After some further discussion, Mr Caverhill said he was quite prepared to state the charges which had been made against the master to the Committee. (Mr Caverhill here described the nature of the complaints which he had made against the master in connection with his two little girls, aged 7 and 8 years, the details of which are unfit for publication.) These charges he was still prepared to adhere to. Mr P. Speedy then made similar statements regarding the master’s conduct towards his daughter and another child. He could substantiate his charge. He would not send his children to the school again. His daughter’s age was 10 years, and that of the other child 11 or 12. A Voice : And the Committee thought that was libel ! Another Voice :It will be, when it gets into the public prints. The Chairman : We have nothing to do with the newspapers. We are here to investigate these charges. After some further discussion, Mr T. Smith proposed—“ That this meeting views with concern the evidence brought before it, and recommends that the headmaster be removed from his position ; failing his resignation, that a deputation wait upon the Education Board, and advise it of what has transpired at this meeting.” Mr Cramp seconded the motion, which was carried by 25 to 4 votes, those not householders in the school district abstaining from voting. Messrs S. Smith, J. Smith, T. P. Allen, Eglinton, and H, Southey were appointed to carry out the terms of the resolution, and the proceedings terminated with votes of thanks to the Chairman and representatives of the Press.