DUNEDIN EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 995, 27 March 1891, Page 28

DUNEDIN EDUCATION BOARD.

THE VEXED QUESTION OF SCHOOL BOOKS. • (PER- PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 Dunedin, March 19. At the Education Board’s meeting to-day consideration of the Auckland Herakl s article was deferred for a week. The letter of the Secretary to the Education Department, enclosing a letter from the Otago lrades and Labour Council, was first simply received, but one member suggested that this was not courteous. The Chairman said he was inclined to inform the Minister that this was a continuation of the policy of boycotting, and not worthy his attention. Mr J ago said the letter raised the questiou of school books being prepared by Government and issued free, a matter that would involve L2OO. Mr Earnsbaw’s name having been mentioned the Hon J. McKenzie asked what Mr Earnshaw had to do with the letter. The Minister then went on to warmly defend his colleague the Minister of Education. He assured the members that they could not treat these matters with contempt. The members appeared inclined to object to everything which came from the Minister. If be had pleased the Minister could have taken action without consulting the Board, but he asked the Board for their advice. The members, he said, should forget their personal opposition to the Government party. Mr Green denied that individually or collectively there was the slightest feeling of opposition to the Minister of Education or his colleagues. He contended that the Government should not provide school books. Xhe BLon Mr McKenzie said there was not one letter in the communication pointing in the direction referred to. The Minister did not say he wanted to supply hooks free ; that statement had been dragged in from speeches given by representatives of the people who happened to be supporting the present Government, The Chairman : »• You must keep within limits, Mr McKenzie.” The Hon J. McKenzie : “ Mr Green has been discussing the politics of the Colony, and must I be debarred from answering him?” After a little lively discussion as to what took place at tho last meeting, the Chairman said in the Minister’s letter the Board's attention wa3 drawn to the fact that Whitcombe and Tombs’ books were being used against the wishes of the parents. That statement was incorrect, for the Board had made no attempt to force the books into the schools contrary to the wishes of the patents. The Hon J. McKenzie and the Minister of Education might have been told that without a violent attack being made on him. The Chairman disclaimed any intention on the part of the Board to snub the Minister of Education. Hon Mr McKenzie : “'The public can judge for themselves.” The Chairman : “ They are perfectly at liberty to do so.” The letter that was before the Board at its last meeting was one that should not have been sent out by the Minister of Education, and he was surprised _ that the head of the department allowed it to leave the office. It was utterly unworthy of being written, and was an insult to the Board. The Hon Mr McKenzie held that it was the duty of the Board at the last meeting _to give to the Minister the explanation the Chairman hadgiven that day. The Minister was not to know that the Board had given instructions that only certain bo >ks were to be used. He (Mr Mei\.«nzie) would strongly advise his colleagues when he wished to get advice from the Boiud in future to treat the Otago Board with the contempt with which they evidently desired to be treated. It was agreed to receive the lotter and. to thank the Minister for his communication, and that the Secretary be instructed to send the Minister of Education full particulars ot all transactions of tho Board in connection, with the matter of school books.