POLITICAL PATRONAGE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12903, 14 February 1906, Page 6

POLITICAL PATRONAGE.

" BEHIND OUB. BACKS.*'

A letter was received from the Department by the Board of Education yesterday, "stating that £350 had' :i beea granted for the: erection of. a teachers residence.

"Mr Hamilton drew, attention to the fact that the Board had twice been refused a grant for this residence, and now it had been" obtained behind their back. The last letter they-had' from the Department said the residence was not .required, as they had ascertained' that the teacher had obtained accommodation.

The chairman ' hoped the Press would take particular notice of this,- and the feeling of the Board on-the subject.

..'-Mr Barclay did not know whether' the election had anything* toido witbr it. nor whether the new departure originated before or after the election. . - The Building Committee: thought- it>very' strange that, after the Board had made several applications on good bona fide grounds, and the money had been refused or at all events not given, now without any additional pressure from the Board, and- after the election, down came the nionev. '

The chairman said it placed the Board in' 1 a humiliating position. Mr Barclay looked'upon it as a snub. The Board asked and got nothing, and now it came through another channel.. He was not grumbling at the money being granted, of course, but at- the manner in which it was ■ granted--.: The chairman said it seenwl that the Department . did: not believe' the Board. They went- behind-the Board's back to inquire whether the teacher had got lodgings or not. "'■.'.'

Mr Barclay said could, explain how the teacher got -lodgings. . The manager at Waihao Downs left)' ; arid the owners said the teacher could stay in the manager'e cottage ; until a hew manager-came.