SCHOOL COMMITTEE IN TROUBLE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10041, 8 January 1909, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEE IN TROUBLE.

(Peb Pbess AssodAUoif.) Westport, January 7 The Town Hall was packed and a large number of people were unable to gain admission to-night, when a public meeting was held to protest against the action of the Westport School Committee in regard to the selection of names of candidates to forward to the Xelson Education Board. At the first meeting the Commifcte decided to send the names of Mr "Wake (Hokitika) and Mr Hunter (Stratford) forward to the Board. Five of the Committee were in favor of Mr Harkness and four against, and the motion was lost. In the first vote to reduce the names to two Messrs Hunter and Wake got sis votes and- Mr Harkness only five, the final vote being as above, with the names of Messrs Wake and Hunter to go forward. The majority then found that three days' notice of the meeting was not given, and declared the meeting invalid, and called a fresh meeting, at which four of the majority spoke out strongly, stating that it was the intention of the majority to send forward the name of Mr Harkness for the Hoard to appoint him, irrespective of the qualifications of candidates. They then left the meeting, and the five decided to forward the names of Messrs Harkness and Wake in that order. As a result of their action a public meeting was held to-night, and Mr Samuel, one of the minority, moved that the meeting is of opinion that the first selection made by the Committee, in submitting the names of Messrs Wake and Hunter for the position of principal, was in the best interests of education in Buller. An amendment was moved upholding the majority's ac-ti-m. After a long and warm discussion a vote was taken, and the amendment declared by the Mayor lost by 64 votes to 43 (householders "only being allowed to vote). A further amendment that a!! the Committee resign and that the I'oard be asked to suspend the appointment was lost, the Chairman of the Committee (one of the majority) statinc that a fresh Committee could not be elected. The motion was then put and carried by 70 to 46.