SCHOOL ELECTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 115, 18 May 1933, Page 6

SCHOOL ELECTIONS

CHOICE OF COMMITTEES THREE PROTESTS MADE ONLY ONE UPHELD Annual meetings of Householders to elect school committees are rarely any thing but quiet, orderly affairs. The paramount difficulty nearly always seems to be to ensure large enough attendances to prove that the interest taken in school business is really as live as it ought to be. Occasionally, however, theio are exceptions and interest is not only so keen that it results in well attended meetings, but also in pr‘tests as to the methods adopted to see the old committees out and new ones in. Throe examples of this type ot meeting were before the Wanganui Education Board yesterday, two of them from Palmerston North and one from Alount View, Marton. Three protests were lodged ana now elections asked for. In connection with the election at the Central School (Palmerston North), it was alleged that the chairman had acted unfairly in referring to a “past pupils’ association ticket,” and that the ballot paper with the names of the candidates on it had displayed a cross against the names of all the members of the outgoing committee. With regard to the meeting at Terrace End (Palmerston North), it was alleged that the same fault had occurred in respect to the ballot papers and, in addition, the right to vote of one person at that meeting was challenged. It was pointed out that the voting was so close that one vote could affect tho position of the last committee member elected.

By way of explanation tho chairman at the Central School meeting said that ho had been duly elected chairman and had a right to occupy the chair, and also the right to express his own views as a householder. So far as the ballot papers were concerned, tho practice of marking the sitting committeemen with a cross was one that had been followed in tho past.

Air. AL H. Oram (Palmerston North), at the board meeting yesterday said that there was nothing in the Education Act to prevent the names being marked. His own opinion was that it was not a practice to be followed, but it was not illegal. Tt should not be countenanced in the future. Ho moved that no action be taken by the board and that the election be confirmed. The chairman had the free right of a householder to speak.

Colonel Whyte (Palmerston North' seconded. “This practice has been followed before,” he said, “and 1 don’t think it had any effect on tho election. ”

“It would cut both ways,” said the chairman (Mr. E. F. Hemingway). “If the committee had done good work there were the men who had done it, marked with a cross. If it had done bad work, there they wore marked, so that they could be crossed out.” “It is entirely wrong to have crosses there,” said Air. R. Dukoson (Huntcrville). “They are put there for a purpose. The remarks of the chairman (at the Central School), were indiscreet, to say the least.’' Air. J. K. Hornblow (Foxton), said he would support the motion, but thought something should be added to it, instructing that In the future no indication be given on a ballot paper at all as to whether a candidate is a sitting committeeman or not.

Air. J. Aitken (Wanganui), took the same view as Air. Dukeson. Action should be taken by the board to declare the election at tire Central School invalid. That was a very small penalty. The board should show its disapproval ot the illegality of a ballot paper of this kind. He felt inclined to move an amendment mat a new election bo ordered. Tho chairman: Thar is a direct negative. Air. Oram added to his motion to instruct householders’ meetings in future net to mark names on the ballot pajers before they are issue!. Tho motion was carried, Air. Aitken raising his voice against it. Regarding Terrace End, it was explained that the ballot paper had been printed by the same printers as had done the Central School paper. So far as the vote challenged wa> concerned, Air. Oram said that even if it. was disallowed, the position would come down to the chairman 01 the meeting exercising his casting vote, and be would be morally bound to give it in favour of the sitting commit, eonum.

Colonel Whyte stated that he had seen the chairman and that was whin would have happened if the casting vote had been called on. This election was confirmed also.

With regard to Alount View, Air. A. S. Coleman held that the election was invalid for two reasons—because members had been elected who had not signified in writing their consent to stand, and because ballot papers with the names of candidates thereon had not been issued.

The chairman read tho by-lhw, which stated plainly that ballot papers must have the names of all candidates on them, and electors had to strike out any they pleased, so as not to leave more than the number required.

In this case the board ruled that a definite breach of the by-laws had been committed and ordered a fresh election.