TELEGRAPH MESSENGERS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 68, 13 December 1907, Page 6

TELEGRAPH MESSENGERS

DISCUSSION BY THE EDUCATION BOARD. At tho meeting of the Board of Education yesterday an animated discussion centred round ail item in the Truant Officers report concerning the employment, by tho Postal Department, of boys under the proscribed standard of exemption set forth in tho School Attendance Act. The Truant Officer (Mr. J. Dineen) said:— "In the monthly report from Levin, the headmaster states that a boy of twolve years, who has passed only Standard 111, is still employed in tho Levin Post Office, although he has written to tho parents and to the Levin Postmaster. Somo months ago I dealt with two similar cases —one in Wellington and tho other in Martinborough. I waited on the officers in charge, who atonce dismissed the boys and thoy returned school. An article ontitled "Telegraph Messengers" appeared in TnE Dominion" on December 10 in which it was stated that boys under 14 years who had not passed tho standard of exemption wore employed by tho Postal Department. AVhen I brought tho article under the. notice of the officer in chargo at tho General Post Office, he assured me that there was no boy who had not passed Standard V at present employed by the Department. The reports from the headmasters of the city schools confirm the officer's statements, and as I frequently question telegraph messengers as to their age and tho standard they have passed, I am certain that tho article in quostioii is misleading." Mr. .A. H. Vilo considered that the Board had a ground of omplaint against the Government with reference to the case at Lovin, referred to by the Truant Officer. He thought they should protest against this sort of thing. He moved i. "That the attention of the Post-master-General bo, drawn to a report that children have been employed as. ilelograph messengers ill contravention of the compulsory clauscs of tho Education Act; but a : copy of the Truant Officer']? report bo furnished to tho Postmastor-Gon-eral, particularly in respect to the case of a Levin P.O. messenger, and that the Postmaster-General be askod to take such steps'as will prevent children undor 14 years, who liavo not passed Standard V, being omployed in Govcrnriient Departments." Mr. W. C. Buchanan seconded tho motion. Captain M'Donald suggested that thoy should make sure of their ground. Ho thought that the Department ought to be asked for information on the point. The chairman observed that, the Truant Officer liad already interviewed the' officer-in-charge. _ . • ' Mr. Aitken was under tho impression that certificates sotting forth particulars aS to applicants were required by tho Government Departments. Capt. M'Donald said there was another aspect to the matter. It was the duty of the, school authorities to see that ttheir pupils. had complied with the exemption conditions of tho Act when they left school. * Tho motion was then put and carried unanimously.