The Waipa Post. Published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1925. A CHILDISH ACTION.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1638, 7 May 1925, Page 4

The Waipa Post. Published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1925. A CHILDISH ACTION.

MANY people lelrned with surprise that seven of the Pine elected members of the Te AwamStu District High School Committee, elected at the householders’ meeting last Monday night, had precipitately tendered their resignation on Tuesday night to the Board of Education. Their decision was based on the feeling that the householders meeting was unrepresentative. Well, if an attendance of over forty was not representative we take it that the Committee themselves were just as blameworthy for the fact as any other .section of the community. But we do not admit that the meeting was not representative, remembering the very much smaller attendances of the two former meetings of householders. There have been occasions in Te Awamutu when the large school room has proved all too small for the attendances of householders at election time ; but if we remember aright the householders’ meetings of 1924 and 1923 comprised less than half the number present last Monday evening. It must have been disconcerting to the old committeemen to find that their revered chairman had fallen in public estimation to such an extent as only to poll sixteen votes —less than any other member of the old Committee. There must, obviously, have been some cause for this, but just what the chief cause was we leave it to them at this stage to answer. Judging by the phrasing of their letter of resignation there is an inference that the meeting was packed by interested opponents of the chairman. But it should be remembered that the dhairman and his fellow members of the old Committee were just as free to bring along their declared supporters. That they failed to do this no doubt they will cheerfully agree. Therefore, if they, or any of their number, were unsuccessful they have only themselves to blame. It must be said, however, that their attempt to rectify their omission by precipitating another election with the avowed object of getting Mr Battson elected to the committee so as to officiate as chairman, will very probably be accepted as a challenge, and is apt to draw more people into evincing an interest in school affairs and control than ever before. It may be that their action will recoil on their own heads. If the people of Te Awamutu can be relied upon to attend the meeting and use their own impassioned judgment when casting votes then all will be well, but it is a fair assumption that other considerations will be brought into the matter before election night. Meantime, and until such time as an announcement is made as to the date of the new householders’ meeting, the secretary is apparently carrying on the business of the Committee. The two present members have little or no authority; and will have to “mark time’’ until their fellow committeemen are elected or appointed. It is to be assumed, from their letter, that at least six of the signatories and Mr Battson will offer themselves for re-election. And if, as is possible, Mr Battson is again rejected, will the others (assuming they obtain the necessary votes to ensure their election), again resign? It is hard to realise that men of standing in the community could have placed themselves in such an invidious position. Their resignation because Mr Battson was not elected is tantamount to an admission that Mr Battson was the whole committee. If this is a fair inference then they were useless on the committee except to keep off the committee eight other people who might or might not have seen eye to eye with their champion chairman.