Pokeno School Roll of Honour.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 343, 8 January 1918, Page 4

Pokeno School Roll of Honour.

| To the Editor'! Sir-Your correspondent "Ajax" should, considering the interest he is taking in the above subject, be better acquainted with facts than he apparently is as denoted bv the misstatements contained in his letter in your issue of January 4th. "Ajax" states that Mrs Lippiatt told the Committee at tho special meeting held at her request what arrangements f-lie had made. This is quite incorrect. The Chairman pointedly askel Mrs Lippiatt what arrangements she had made for the carrying out of the function and she | unhesitatingly replied "1 have made I none." Had Mrs Lippiatt taken the Committee into her confidence at ! that stage there would not have been j any trouble. Instead of that she | unfortunately allowed a private quarrel with the Chairman to influence her to undoubtedly ignore him in his oflieial capacity. Your correspondent enquires "How does the School Committee reconcile their action in wiring the Prime Minister after they had notified Mrs Lippiatt that they would take no official parr in tae function." This was fully explained at the meeting [of hous holders. Tho Chairman, I although not recognised by the proj moters, was considered worthy of i respect by Mr Rhodes, M.P. for the district, who telegraphed to him as ( follows: '"I have arranged with the j Prime Minister to unveil the School Roll of Honour at the school." In view of this telegram the Committee was again forced to take action as at this time it was posted all round the district that the Roll of Honour was to be unveiled in Mr Pine's private grounds. I ask what action could the Committee take other than what they did, i.e., to call the householders together to explain matters, for otherwise all concerned were in a false position. The other arrangements your correspondent refers to were not in accord with Mr Rhodes' telegram However, as the case stands, it is not a credit to any districv Out of duo respect to the splendid fellows who have sacrificed "everything for the honcur and glory of their native land I say let some honest endea vour bo male to huv • the Roll of Honour unveiled. Although mistakes have been made, 1 give Mr and Mrs Lippiatt due credit for promoting this worthy object. At the same time the School Committee is justified in demanding that tho School Roll of Honour should be j complete and should include the name of every soldier who was edu- j cated at tho Pokeno school, whether they happened to be associated with Mr Lippiatt or not. To this end the School Committee personally is will ing to haml over the sum of £5 to any organised committee and also to help to coll' Ct subscriptions with a view to having the Roll suitably unveiled. - I am., etc., C.J. LEATHER Pokeno, 7th Jan , 10is.