Scrapping With the Bureaucrats
August 10th, 1926
The Deputy Minister
Department of Education - Ed
Sir
I enclose 2 letters for your perusal which please return to me.
This condoning and allowing absolute defiance by defaulting Taxpayers is getting unbearable and the Department of Municipal Affairs is establishing a dangerous precedent.
And this defaulter is costing our hard-working Taxpayers $40.00 a month. I don't see why we should be compelled to educate these 4 children, unless you can compel the Father to pay taxes.
The M.D. even infers that I had no right to take the $20.00 from him under distraint threat.
He & Family live on Farm. He has seeded some of the land, so he must be occupier if not owner.
If he was a Squatter we could demand $4.00 a year Poll Tax couldn't we?
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
Sec.
(145)
August 23rd, 1927
The Deputy Minister
Department of Education - Ed
Sir
I have just received a puzzling, strange letter from your Chief Attendance Officer, which has surprised and annoyed me very much. I have thought to demand an explanation, if not an apology. Of course this man holds a copy which you will be able to read. I always keep you informed as to everything
You are perfectly aware that we do not operate our School during January, February, March & April through the inclement weather and the long distances from School to our few children's homes, but that we have no Summer Vacations. We tried operation this year in April. Miss McNally started April 5th but only 2 children turned up and she gave the Board to understand that she could not carry on under those circumstances so left at the end of 6 days. I wrote to you as to this.
Then we engaged Miss Ada Lent (as you know) (end of p.146)
who promised to teach our School until December 15th - starting May 2nd.
Afterwards Miss Lent found she should have to go back to University in July, so she left us June 30th.
We then engaged Miss M.C Finley (I mailed agreement to you Aug. 18th) who started School July 18th. - You received and acknowledged our Term Return ending June 30th, so pray what does your officer mean at the beginning of his letter?
As to his tirades re "Vacation" - well Sir, I won't condescend to answer it, and you would not wish me to do so. His remarks are so un-called for, so unneccessary and out-of-place.
But I must say in conclusion, Sir, that after my long life of public work in England and Canada, which is rapidly moving to an end, I don't think I deserve such a letter as that of your Chief Attendance Officer dated August 20th, 1927.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(147)
April 15th, 1922
The Deputy Minister
Department of Education-Ed
Sir (S.D. #1739)
I have received your two letters both dated April 13th. You state that
W1/2 & SE 1/4 25-23-5-5
All 35-23-5-5
N 1/2 19-53-3-5
All 31-53-3-5
W 1/2 5-54-3-5
S 1/2 7-54-3-5
belonging to C.P.R. in our district are, now, to be taxed. -
My Assessment Roll was posted March 3. Tax Roll was posted and Notices mailed March 28th. A few taxes paid. Am I to make a supplemental assessment? According to my Assessment Roll, out of your list, only S 1/2 7-54-3-5 is in our district, belonging to C.P.R. so there must be something wrong somewhere. We have down All 3-54-4-5 & SE9-54-4-5 and the latter you are taking away from us.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(91)