POINTS OF VIEW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3801, 28 August 1936, Page 7

POINTS OF VIEW

OPINIONS OF OUR READERS.

MANGAPIKO HAS SLIPPED I Sir,— l read'your report q£ the indignation meeting of householders at Mangapiko on Tuesday night, and must confess myself disappointed and disgusted at the tactics of those who convened the meeting. Now is a funny, time for those stalwarts of what is right to be suddenly betraying such a keen interest in school affairs. I know one or two had previously served on the School Committee, but the rest, and a horde of supporters, have shown little or no practical interest in the school—even to the extent of offering themselves as committeemen at the annual meeting of householders. If they had been nominated, and been “ whacked,” I could understand their present attitude; but they stayed away from meetings until something in the nature of a “ donnybrook ” was developing—partly through their contumacious attitude and “ a whispering campaign.” I hold no brief for Mi- Dudley or Mr Signal—they may have been unwitting causes of the trouble developing to its present stage—but surely they are entitled to support, seeing that they were elected above others by the householders themselves, who' should surely -now be loyal to them. If they have failed, the proper time to deal with them is at the next annual meeting. Tip them out then, but for goodness sake be decent to them now. By that word “ decent ” I mean loyal. Anyhow, there was a lot of silly rubbish talked at the meeting by people who have little or no interest in the Mangapiko school, and more by folk who have not troubled to inform themselves of the trend of education. People spoke who have had no children attending the school for years—and not likely to have any again. Others spoke, and voted, who are childless or who have children under school age. Still others voted who decline to let their children attend State schools; yet they seek to direct the affairs of the school. Was anything more absurd ? My counsel is to give the present committeemen support until the end of their term; and I may add that Messrs Dudley and Signal appear to have taken the long-sighted view of conditions while others are positively short-sighted. As an old pupil I claim to have for more right to speak than some of those who voiced their opinions (or someone else’s ?) at the meeting.—l am, etc., ONCE A SCHOLAR.

DOMESTIC HELP. Sir, —“Domestic unionists active.” To many these words mean nothing. To me they cause a shiver of apprehension, beoause, judging by the awards just passed, a domestic in the true sense of the word will be out of the question for most farmers’ wives, if the wage is to be a standard one. In the country one has usually to take what one ean get. At the present time I have a young girl 14 years of age whose, knowledge of domestic duties is nil, but at ’the same time she is clean and willing to be taught. I pay her a small wage, which is all she is worth, but she is well fed and happy and contented, and probably in time will develop into a good domestic. Surely in our own homes we should be fcee from awards and conditions. After all, if a girl is not satisfied she can always leave, so why pass legislation so that it will be impossible to keep a young, inexperienced girl at a small wage, which is all she is entitled to, until she is fully qualified for domestic duties.—l am, etc., APPREHENSIVE.