FIGHTING FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 30

FIGHTING FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP.

One of the greatest scenes that have taken place at any meeting of a public body occurred last week when tho members of the Auckland Board of Education met, Mr R. Udy in tho chair. When the members sat down Mr Harris proposed and Mr Wright seconded that Mr Muir preside over the meeting. Mr Udy said there was a chairman, and asked tho secretary, Air Rice, to go on reading the minutes. Mr Rice then commenced to road the minutes of the meeting of Ist April, Mr Muir objecting. Mr Wright then proposed that Mr Muir be chairman of the Board. Mr Harris seconded, and Air M •ureallcd lor a voto, and was supported by Messrs Wright, Harris and Lambe. Mr Muir then said he was elected to the chair and was going to carry on the business. The secretary continued to road the minutes,

but Air Muir protested, and Air Udy coutondc I that he was the chairman. The reading of tho minutes was finished amidst interruption, but Air Udy refused to vacate the chair, and Mr Muir thereupon took a chair and put it at the left of Air Udy, at the head of the fable.

A scene of almost- indescribable confusion then followed, member.-, speaking in an excited state at lie: samu time.

Mr Wright then said he was going out fora policeman to have the chairman arrested. They had been too quiet, an I they were going to work in a constitutional manner.

Air Lambe funded in a protest, signed by himself and Messrs Harris, Wright and Muir, protesting against the business transacted on the Ist of April, on tho ground that there bad been no chairman.

The secretary was about to put on the table Sir It. Stout's opinion regarding the chairmanship, when Mr Muir said, " Let the members who asked for it, pay for it !" The secretary apparently only recognised instructions from Air Udy as tho chairman, and after a long wrangle, the secretary read tiie chairman's report. While this was beine;

done Mr Wright took the minute book to Mr Muir so that the latter might sign as chairman. Mr Muir signed the book, which was also signed by Mr Luke, who considered he had as much right to sign as Air Muir. Mr Udy did not sign. 'l'he meeting then proceeded with tho ordinary business, which was only conducted with considerable difficulty, owirg to the interruption caused by the efforts of the two chairmen in asserting their right to address tho meeting in explanation of the various matters dealt with.

When the item on the order paper referring to the reading of Sir K. Stout's opinion was reached, Mr Aluir said, " Hero is this opinion of Sir R. Stout. Again I protest against its being read." As Air Rice proceeded to read the opinion, Mr Muir said, "I move the adjournment of the meeting ; it is time for adjourning for lunch." lie put the motion to ttie meeting and it was carried. However, the opinion was read, and Sir R. Stout's view was that Air Udy was legally in possession of tho chair.

After the luncheon adjournment Mr Muir entered the room before the proceedings commenced, and took his seat in the usual chair occupied by the chairman Air I'dy entered afterwards, and seated himself alongside Air Muir. The consideration of correspondence relating to the suspension of teachers at Hora llora and Whangapoua was then proceeded with, and it was resolved that the matter be left to the committees interested. Both Air Udy and Air Muir put the resolution to the meeting.

In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith, formerly Home Secretary, moved the rejection'of the Voluntary Schools Bills. Ho declared that the measure would paralyse the department and cripple tho Boards, and he threatened stubborn and protracted opposition to the Hill. The returns of the referendum on the education question in Smith Australia have been practically completed. In favour of tho present system there are. 50,600 votes; against it 17,000. The vote's in favour of Bible-reading in schools number 18,500, and against it 3-1,31 »0.

Thero are 13,000 votes in favour of a capitation grant to denominational schools, and 41,300 opposed to it.