A WARM INTERLUDE

Wairarapa Age, 6 May 1924, Page 5

A WARM INTERLUDE

AT HOUSEHOLDERS' MEETING.

CARTERTON AMENITIES.

(Our Travelling Reporter.)

A discreditable scene took place at the householders ’ meeting in Carterton last night. In returning thanks for his re-election to the School Committee, Mr J. W. Henderson said it was shameful the abuse the members of the committee had been subjected to during the last two months from Mr W. C. S. Baskiville, a teacher. He (the speaker) stood there to challenge Baskiville to come forward and

repeat the statements and "also the language used—the language was such that would be used by low-down bookies’ clerks or low-class larrikins. If Mr thought he was suffering from an injustice, why had he not applied for an official inquiry into all the circumstancesT No, he was afraid of this. Mr Baskiville: What I have said has been said to your face. I can’t say the Fame about you and the others.

The chairman (Mr W. A. Kitchen) here asked Mr Baskiville to withdraw.

Mr Baskiville continued to speak, and the chairman stated that he would report him to the Education Board for his conduct. After further sallies the chairman again asked Mr Baskiville to withdraw*.

Mr Baskiville: You call yourself a Christian? You are no more a Christian than a dog in the street. The chairman said he regretted very much the circumstances that had led up to the trouble at the school. He had taken a straight course right thivugh and had done what he considered his duty. Mr Baskiville had admitted striking the child, and had he attended the first meeting of the committee when requested matters, might have been righted. Mr Baskiville challenged the chairman regarding a statement he had made to a prominent settler, but the chairman denied having said anything. Mr Baskiville: You’re a liar.

The chairman: Keep quiet. I will report you to the Education Board. Continuing, he said he was out to do the fair thing and it was not a practice of his to make false statements. The committee had not been looking for trouble and Mr Baskiville had brought it on himself.

After a further interlude between the chairman and Mr Baskiville the Scene terminated, much to the satisfaction of those present. At a subsequent meeting of the newly-elected committee when Mr Kitchen was re-elected chairman, Mr J. Preddy said the committee desired to tender the chairman their sympathies for the indignities he had been subjected to that night.