OFFICIALS AND ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14381, 26 November 1908, Page 8

OFFICIALS AND ELECTIONS.

: ,';...-■ —-^——. ■ . i'A. CIRCULAR CRITICISED, ' (Pien. United Press Association.) ./" ~;: November 25. . To\rards the, end of the election .campaign' in Grey Lynn a circular was issued signed by " John Payne, Chief Commercial Instructor, Auckland Technical College." The circular was "referred to at to-day's meeting of the Education Hoard by the chairman (Mr<C.' J. Parr) ; who said that he had' wi'itieh to Mr Payne, asking fur an explanation. The reply'had been that Jlv Payne did not feel that he shjould be called upon to explain any action of Ids, real or apparent, as a private citizen. Further correspondence on the subject had been equally unsatisfactory to the chairman. 'Mr Parr said that lie understood that the circular had been printed at Mr Payne's expense on the eve of the election. It seemed to the chairman that tt was a' matter calling for the attention i of the board. Mr Parr said that auy ; member of the board would readily concede to Mr Payne bis political right<3, and ■the right to express political views, so long as the expressions were reasonable ■and', decent,-'but that circular had gone .beyond the bounds of reasonable comment. The document appeared to be official, and was therefore calculated to mislead. .It did not purport to be just a stotement of facts, but went further, it had attacked the Miiristcr personally in an, unjust .manner. The board could not .allow any employee to say that the Minister was guilty of chicanery and a traitor. Mr.Payne had gone bevond the' bounds of becoming conduct, which the j board was entitled to expect from ham under their' agreement. He thought that the board would be justified k dismiss-1 Jag Mr Payne; but clemency should be exercised, and the man censured and told that the board had power to dismiss him for any unbecoming conduct. In a comprehensive motion Mr Parr proposed that Mt Payne's conduct should be reprobated, and that he should be eeverely censuwd. Mr Garland, seconded the motion. He advocated a little more action in regard to teachers who took iimiginarv polls on approachini? elections. Mr Garland particularly mentioned a caso in wliich a teacher was said to have asked the ohildren to hold up their hands to indicate whose parents were going to vote for certain candidates. The motion was carried. The chairman stated that Mr Georee George and the rest of tho staff of the technical College had disclaimed mn nection with the circular.