SCHOOLS AND ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19617, 22 October 1925, Page 2

SCHOOLS AND ELECTIONS.

EDUCATION BOAED DISCUSSION. AN INDEFINITE POSITION. Some rather decided opinions were passed at yesterday’s meeting of the Otago Kducation Board in connection with a,.communication from the Education Department as to the use of school buildings for electoral purposes. The department stated that, for the efficient carrying out of the general election, the employment of school teachers and the use of school buildings as polling places in country districts appeared to be essential. Returning officers had been instructed to go fully into the question of whether public buildings could be obtained in lieu of schools, and it was hoped to avoid the closing of large schools on election day. Mr C. F. Bell wrote asking for leave of absence to act in connection with the parliamentary election. The Ravonsbourne School Committee wrote protesting against any proposal to close the school on November 4 to allow of any teachers acting as returning officers or poll clerks. The Secretary (Mr Park) mentioned that he had been informed that 164 poll clerks were required for Dunedin West. Mr Wilkinson said a very strong opinion had been expressed at the meeting of the School Committees’ Association that schools should not be closed for election purposes. The Hon. D. T. Fleming pointed out that there was great difficulty in getting reliable' and independent persons- to act as poll clerks. He thought the board should assist in helping to provide such clerks on general principles. The Chairman (Mr J. Wallace) said an objection raised was that teachers were Government servants and were extra for doing Government work. ihat was one of the great objections to teachers acting in the capacity suggested. Ihe question was not so easy to settle as a great many critics thought. He thought that they should allow teachers to act as poll clerks in every case where a school was closed, and when a school was not closed the head master should have power to assist. ' Mr Wood said that in country districts it was essential that school teachers- should got off so as to bo available for such a purpose. In the larger towns and cities he did not see that that was necessary. Mr Sanderson moved that where schools wero closed the teachers might be used for polling purposes, and this was agreed to without a division. He then moved that where teachers m town made application to act as poll clerks, the application be granted, provided suitable arrangements could be made by the head master for carrying on such teachers work. , . , Mr Todd said that there were plenty of other Government servants to act, and ho did not think it was a fair suggestion. Head masters would bo placed in a very awkward position. The motion was carried by four votes to three. , , , „ , , , Mr Wood then moved that all schools be closed on election day, which, he said, would do away with a lot of heartburnfir Wilkinson seconded the motion, and said it was the only satisfactory way of dealing with the matter. The motion was lost by four votes to three.