ANOTHER TOURING PARTY

Chronicle (Levin), 11 October 1947, Page 5

ANOTHER TOURING PARTY

Press Association)

Criticism Of Delegation To Unesco

(Per

WELLINGTON, Oct. 10. When the Education Department estimates were before the House of Representatives today, Mr. W. A. Sheat (Patea) said he had been informed that arrangenients were well in hand for sending another touring party to a conference of Unesco and that it was to comprise the Direetor of Education, a Miss McPhee, a man named Forsythe and a man named Nash who, he believed, was a relative of the Minister of Finance. He understood arrqmgenients had been made for the party to tour United States by car o.n their way: to Mexico City and he questioned the. necessity for that expenditure. The matter was causing dissatisfaetion among teachers and he would like to kuow on what basis the delegation had been selected. He did not know much about Unesco but he understood it was not of much consequence. The Prime Minister had indieated during the discussion on the External Affairs vote, that overseas conferences were oveF done and here was an opportunity to economise. , The. Minister of Education, Hon. H. G. R. Mason, said the sending of the delegation was eontemplated and as far as car riding was concerned, the raeraber for Patea seemed to know more about it than he (the Minister) did. Mr. S. W. Smith (Hobson) : Are they going to walk? The Minister said he agreed that the utility of a number of overseas conferences would bear some examination'. Mr. Sheat: Utility or f utility? Mr. Mason said New Zealand deeided to join Unesco becausc it was an institution to assist the nations in the sphere of education and eulture and to enable them to get to know each other and spread goodwill. If a delegation were to be sent it should eompiise personnel that could make a useful and practical contribution. The New Zealand delegation was partieularly useful at the last Unesco conference in Paris. Four delegates were going and one would be the Direetor of Education who. was a practical educationist with eonsiderable administrative ability. _ A committee had been set up to advise the Government and that committee recommended that a scientist be included. It was not worth while sending a man from New Zealand and one from Washington was to join the delegation. The Prime Minister said he still adhered to what he said previousiy about reduc-ing the delegations to various world conferences but it was very diffieult to know which ones to withdraw. The -contribution of the New Zealand delegation at the Unesco eont'erence in Paris had been very helpful in keeping tlie feet of the delegates on lirm ground. If we were members of an organisation we had to send a delegation. Cabinet had considered the delegation and the question had arisen whether Dr. Beeby should go for after all his work was in New Zealand. Dr. Beeby himsel-f was worried about the position but it was deeided he should go. Miss Lorna McPhee was a lady of liigh ability and no one would say she was not the most suitable delegate. Mr. Sheat: Has she been a teacherf Mr. Fraser said it did not follow that only people who were teachers should go to a Unesco conference. Mr. Forsythe had been selected previousiy and could not go because of transport difficulties. No teaclier was better qualilied in the field of primary and intermediate education a?nd there was nothing better in this country than his work at Port Chalmers. He was in the front ranlt of teachers and had been president of the New Zealand Educational Institute. Dr. E. Marsden was to have gone to the conference but he had taken up an appointment in London and as a nieasure of eeonomy, Mr. Nash, who was a son of the Minister of Finance, had been asked to attend the conference. Mr. R. G. Gerard (Ashburton) said between 30,000 and 35,000 dollars would be involved in sending the delegation. Had Mr Nash the scientilic attainments or was he following in his father's footsteps and seeing the world at the eost o-f the taxpayer? Mr. Mason said the eost of the delegation would be as near as possibie about £2500. That would not convert Unto 35,000 dollars. Mr. Fraser said Mr. Nash was a qualitied Master of Science wifh honours. There was aniple evidence of his capacity. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Otago Central) asked if an attempt had been made to hold the conference elsewhere so as to avoid the strain o'n dollar funds. The Prime Minister said the deeision to hold the conference in Mexico City was made before the dollar situation developed. Mr. Bodkin asked if the Prime Minister was satislied that, in view of the present situation, New Zealand was justified in asking Britain for dollars for its (New Zealand 's) delegation. Mr. Fraser replied in the affirmative and added that Britain would be disappointed if we did not attend the conference. Mr. Bodkin. then moved, as an amendment, thiit the vote of £6000 to send a delegation to Mexico City, he reducecL by £10 as an indication to the Government that the sending of the delegation should be reviewed and that even if it were necessary that the delegation should go, the size be less than four persons. Out of its'small reserves New Zealand could not even find dollars for more important purposes and it would have to ask hard-pressed Britain to tind the 10,000 dollars required. The amendment was lost on a division by 42 votes to 32. Five Opposition members — Messrs Rae, Fortune, Hanan, Harker a'nd Marshall — voted with the Government. The vote was passed.