Education Board Elections. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 38

Education Board Elections. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — I notice we have quite a host of candidates for the Education Board — so far Messrs J. MacGregor, J. Mitchell, W. Snow, T. Mackenzie, W. Souter, Rev. P. B. Fraser, and Mr Melland. Like myself, no doubt a good many committeemen will be at a loss to pick out one better than another, unless we except Mr MacG-regor, who has undoubtedly proved himself one of the ablest men we have ever had. on the board, and whose election is therefore assured. Messrs Mitchell and Snow are, in. my opinion, just as good men as Messrs T. Mackenzie and P. B. Fraser, and why should we vote against them' Mr Mackenzie's circular seems to me to deal mostly with things beyond the board's jurisdiction — matters for Parliament to deal with. Mr P. B. Fraser has raised the question of town versus country, but when I come to look at the per sonnel of the board, I find the country has a big majority of members. The town members are three; the country six. The chaiiman cannot be looked upon as a town member, as he has been so long resident in the country, and knows its wants ancl difficulties. With, this majority the cry of town against country is lidiculous, and the cure must be looked for in some other direction. As Mr Gallaway says, ' How is the board to make bricks without straw?" Theie is only one cure — get Parliament to increase the grant. Until that is done no sensible man can expect the board to do impossibilities.

The board has often been accused of being undignified, and during his term of office Mr Fraser did not help to make it ?ny more dignified ; neither did he help to reduce the office expenditure. If my memory serves me correctly, he rather helped to increase it, and stoccl up as the champion of the office. Now he promises us concrete tanks and high schools. He proposed to increase committees' powers, but ended by x Dro Po3iP 03 i n o to sweep them all away. Committees have not the confidence in tho Hey. P. B. Fraser that they had when they once elected him, and do not seem inclined to tiust him. — I am, etc.,

COUNTKY COMMITTEEMAN.

Judge Dunbar Johnson, of the Native Land Court, has reopened the Court at Maketu, Bay of Plenty.

The gross profits of the Broken Hill Proprietary mine for the past half-year amounted to £144-, 482.

A whale measuring 36ft was found on the beach on the north side of the Waimatuku by some Invercargill people. This is the pecond one found within the last four weeks.