THE Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26, 1881. THE SCHOOL ELECTION.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 111, 26 January 1881, Page 2

THE Manawatu Times.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26, 1881. THE SCHOOL ELECTION.

" Words we things, and a drop of ink falling like dew upoa a thought, produces that which makes thousands, psrhaps millions think."

We do not know whether it was owing to our appeal, or from some other cause which did not appear on the surface, but we were most agreeably gurprised at the very large number of householders which met at the Palmerston school-house on Monday evening, for the selection of school committeemen. While 'we bear testimony to, and congratulate the meeting on, the very excellent committee which has been appointed, we regret that the choice did not include Mr Colemajst, than whom no committee could have a more conscientious or energetic member. He has been a member of the old committee, and during the three years for which he held office, he has never been absent for a single meeting. A protest has been forwarded to the Wanganui Board, through the Chairman, by Mr. Sutton, against the election of the Rev. Mr. Weight, upon the plea that be does not possess the necessary qualiQcatlon of a householder within the meaning of the Act, and should .the protest be upheld, the. whole election will be nullified. - If it be proved that the rev. gentlemen does not possess the necessary qualification as a " householder" to sit on the committee, be certainly is not qualified to receive votes or vote himself at an election. Now, as Mr. Wright received fortysix votes, and used the privilege of .voting for seven candidates, it stands to reason that . if his candidature were illegal, those forty^six votes would have been given to some one else, and might have reversed the positions of the successful and unsuccessful candidates \ while it also may be that same of bis seven yotes may have-given some of the present successful candidates, an advantage whioh otherwise they would not have had. It appears that Mr, Wright does not occupy a house himself, but ■hares a. portion, and.it is urged by the gentleman who has made the protest, that, therefore, be is not a bona fide householder. In order that our readers may judge for themselves, and draw their own conclusions as^to whether he is or is not disqualified, we give the meaning of tfce. WQ?4 " b,ou.«i#b,Ql&er" a« 4«B«ed

m the interpretation clause of the Act — Householder mean 9 every adult, male or female person, who as owner, tenint, lessee, or occupier, occupies, uses, or resides m any dwelling-house, shop, warehouse, or other building m any district, or every parent or guardian who is liable to maintain, or has the actual custody of any child. It will be seen that the interpretation is a very wide one, and allows a " householder" very great latitude, indeed. Certainly the r'eclaration that any male or female adult who "uses or resides" m a house is a householder, opens the door to the claiming of.- the privilege by every lodger, for to lod^e m a dwelling oue must certaiuly use and reside m it. In our opinion, nevertheless, if Ma. WiiIGHT occupies one portion of a house and pays rent to the person occupying the other portion, he is not a householder within the meaning of the Act, and he is not qualified either as a voter or a candidate. The question has, however, been referred to the Board, which meets to-day, and we shall await its decision with some curiosity, as upon it stands or falls the late election.