SWEDISH DRILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 5

SWEDISH DRILL.

THE GARLICK INQUIRY. MR. WILFORD'S CASE CLOSES, A BACKWARD MEMBER. The Committee of Inquiry set up by the House of Representatives to inquire into the appointment of Mr. Royd : Garlick as Director of physical Edtocation resumed its sittings yosterday. ' Members of the committeo present wero: The Hon. J. A. Millar (in the chair), tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, Mesisrs. J. C. Thomson-, G. M. Thomson, T. K. Sidey, D. Guthrie, C. E. Statham, A. H. Hindmarsh, and H. Poland Mr. T. M. Wilford,; on whose instigation the inquiry was ordered, was present to call further evidence. Tho Minister for Education (the Hon. J. Allen), Mr. G. Hogben (Inspector-General of Schools), and Mr. Royd Garlick also attended.

The chairman read a number of testimonials as to his ability forwarded by Axol Theodore Holtz, a previous witness. The testimonials wero from the director'of a gymnastic training school in Gothenburg, Sweden, and from medical men and officers of sanatoria in the Dominion. The question of Slaving the evidence heard by. the committee printed was deferred. One of Garlick's Teachers., . Frederick Arthur Hornibrook, of Ohristchuroh, said that he had commenced the study of the medical profession at Dublin, but had to desist through eye trouble. He then studied physical culture under Eugene Sandow tn London. He. came 'to New Zealand' in 1899, and in 1900 opened a school of physical oulture in Christchurch, wliich he still conducted. In 1903 he had conducted a class at Hampstead School, Ashbiirton. He was a 'member of tho Australasian Massage Institute, as .was Royd Garlick. Both he and Garlick had received their certificates without ex-, amination; although such certificates could not now be so obtained. The witness had had a great deal of experience in the Dominion as a masseur.

Mr. Wilford': With' your experience, ' do you think yourself qualified to hold the position of Physical Education Director in tho Dominion? '

Tlio witness: No. / • Mr. Wilforcl: Why? Tlio witness: Because I am not a medical mail'. The first essential in ap- . pointing a physical director is to got a fully-trained medical man who is also a physical instructor—a doctor who has had training in physical ediication. Giving instances of what ho meant, tho witness, mentioned the case of Harvard University, U.S.A., which had a department to tramphysical oulturo experts. Many medical men sought to obtain the physical education certificate • aivardod byctihis department. The university's system of training -was based on the Ling . system of Swedish . drill. The witness read the comprehensive syllabus of Harvard 1 . The' text-boohs written by Harvard instructors, he said, were eminently authoritative.. Medical Man Required, Replying to further questions by Mr. Wilford as to, qualifications necessary for a Director of Physical Education, the witness said that the . first thing was to have at the head of tho Department a highly educated and highly trainecLman.yn awn.i •' • Is Mr.'Ga'rlick'suoh a man ?—"He has not had the training necessary for the type of man I have cited." ' Mr. Herdinan: Like the' man who runs Harvard?—" Ortho meai he teaches." ."■ ■ ■ The witness said' that he himself had taught Royd Garlick in Ohristchurch somo eleven • years ago, whom Garlick was a clerk in tlhe Union Bank. Garlick . had comc from OhristohuTph direct to Wellington. There was 110 institution in Australasia where such- experts as lis. mentioned could bo taught. None 14 of tho universities had such departments as. those .at Harvard] Yale, a.nd Pennsylvania. The witness produced a sheaf of testimonials from medical men, / with, regard to his qualifications as a jnassetor and for physical training. "Perfectly Fantastic." •jVIr. Wilford: Do you come here as a' disappointed applicant seeking of-' ficef—"i\"o; I told you frankly that I do not think I have the qualifications." Mr. Wilford: And you taught Royd Garliqk P —"l consider my qualifications at least as valuable as Mr. Garlick's."

The witness went on to say that for. Garlick or himself to have such an appointment ' was "perfectly fantastic." Somo years ago, Mr. Cooper, who was a physical training instructor in New South Wales schools, paid a visit to New Zealand. Ho watched the children at the Christehurch Normal School at work, and expressed himself as highly pleased with what ho had seen. Ho had asked for the tables used by the teachers, so that they could be used in Sydney. Australia was not ahead of Now Zealand in the matter of the physical training of children.

Mr. Wilford: Would it bo a waste of public money to send a man to Australia to bo taught physical culture? — "Yes; certainly."

The witness said he had no knowledge of Royd Garlick's ability as an administrator, or organiser.' Many of the teachers whom Garlick would have to instruct Vers.science students. Sonie of tliem studied zoology and physiology. It would be absurd for himself or Royd Garlick to attempt to teach them • scientific subjects; Carlick's Training. Mr. Herdman: What is your experience of Mr. Garlick ?—"He attended my classes in 1902 for about three months." Havo you met him since?—" Many times; we have been good friends." Had lio any training before he came to you?—"Nono." You swear that?—"He told me himself that he had been a member of a class in Gisborno, chiefly composed of bank clerks, but he was only an amateur. .Ho was certainly enthusiastic." He had had no training in Australia? —"So far as I know he had not." Would you be surprised to hear that before 1801 he had been trained in Australia in Swedish drill? —"I should be very much surprised, as Swedish • drill was only introduced into England in 1903, so that Australia must have led the world." In answer to further questions, the witness said that somo persons might havo taught Swedish drill in England, baforo 1903, but the system, was not generally recognised. _ Are you in a position to state on .oath that Mr. Garlick is not a fit person to instruct N<?,v Zealand children? —"From my standpoint ho is not."

If Mr. , Garlick makes a statement that he had four or five years' instruction in Swedish drill, what would you say?—" That I am surprised that he did not make a profession of it, inctpad cf remaining a bank clerk," The witness said that only a perfunctory, training in Swedish drill could he obtained in New Zealand. Ho adhered to his contention that a. medical mari was necessary to have chargo of the scheme. The director had to lecture, and there were certain lessons which had to be taught which would not come well from a layman. The system of breathing-exercises in Boyd Garlick's. book' was good, and in _this branch of the subject he seemed _ to '"know his business." The . physical training staffs'of the Army and iNarv wore under the control of medical of-

ficers. He had not been a candidate 1 for any appointment under the scheme. The American Product. In answer to Mr. Guthrie the witness said that tho object of tflio American universities was to turn out highlyskilled physical experts, preferably with a medical degree. Such a man should havo been appointed to Royd Garlick's position. The. appointment of an export in such a case was just as important as it would bo, for instance, in the Railway Department. Mr. Guthrie: Which do you consider mciro important—that a man shoi'Jd be a physical expert, with a knowledge of anatomy and physiology, or that ho should havo a medical degree?—"lf you do not want a medical man, you are paying about £350 a year too much." Tho witness said' that he could not give any particular instance of a medical man 'being appointed to such a position, but lie held that the principle he vocat-ed was thoroughly sound. Royd Garlick had not the" training necessary for tho position. He was' a competent 'masseur and physical oulturist, but lie had not tile spccial qualifications essential to tho successful conduct of a national scheme. Ho did not know of any qualifications in physiology or -anatomy possessed by Garlick, but if he had any he must have been self-taught. In reply to Mr. Sidey, the witness said that he did not know of any medical man in Now Zealand or. England who had sufficient knowledge of physical culture for appointment to the position. A medical man would acquire the necessary linmvlcdgij much quicker than a layman. Garlick had been in tho witness's class at Christchurch for about three months. It was merely an evening class for young men. Garlick had told him that lie had an ambition to be a physical cultiirist. The witness said that he would not undertake to teach the drill in. the Now Zealand manual, as he was not an expert in Swedish drill, which .it required years to learn. Sir. Statham; Is it possible for a man carrying on the business of a physical culturist to <>arn as much as £600 a year?—"l suppose it is." Mr. G. M. Thomson: You think Mr. Garlick should have enough knowledge of biology, plhysiology, and anatomy to instruct teachers? —"Yes." The oliairman: What becomes of theso men who go through Yale and Harvard? —"They go out to Y:M.C.A.'s, State schools, and such institutions." ■ The oliairman: Then the _ American people think more of their children than to allow them to bo trained by incompetent men ?—"That is so." •Tho chairman: So you contend that in New Zealand we are starting out on 'an inferior scheme? —"Yes." / You consider that if New Zealand' had wanted the best class of instructor wo should have got a graduate of one of these American _ universities ?—"Yes; and a man experienced in the handling of large bodies of children." •

Medical, Officers" Positions. To Mr. Allen: He was not an expert in Swedish drill. The ordinary na,val petty-officer who acted as a physical instructor had a thorough knowledge of tho practical side of Swedish drill) but not much of the theoretical side. Such a man would, be quite capable of judging of tho qualifications of Mr. Garlick from the practical side, and he could judge liis theoretical qualifications to a certain extent. , So far as the witness knew, a modical man was always _ in dharge of systems of physical training in schools, but he could not give instances.' He knew that four medical officers had been appointed in the Dominion to take antoiropometrical measurements and make other /examinations in the schools, but in the States these officers could also do tho praotical work of teaching. , Mr. Allen: Do you know that these officers are. not,to , act in conjunction with the Physical 'Department? —'.'I presume they arc." Then if the children are to bo properly measured and .classified by ;the medical officers, can their training not be carried out by Mr. Royd Garlick with perfect safety?—" Medical men would mot stand correction, by a layman. I presume they would be under the director.". Do you think Mr. 'Garlick is qualified to teach the children if they are properly classified by the doctors?—"l would rather not answer that; it is a big question." _ .Could you do it yourself ?—"I could.' Can Royd Garlick ?—"Perhaps he might." ■ Mr. Wilford: The contention vou make is that a medical man is required to institute such a scheme as that New Zealand has just adopted—to set it on foot?—" Yes." , ■

It requires a man with higher qualifications than Mr. Garlick possesses?— "Yes ; it' needs a medical man." This concluded Mr. Wilford's case. .

Further Charges. Mr. Herdman said that before they went any further they should decide on some future course of action. Three charges had been made by Mr. Wilford: (1) That Royd Garlick was incompetent; (2) thai) Mr. Allen, in making the appointment, had been guilty of corrupt action; (3) that the salary paid to Royd Garlick was too much. He wished to know whether Mr. .Wilford intended to bring evidence to support tho charge of corruption which ho implied ia his speech in the House, by reference to "spoils for the victors." Mr. Wilford said that he had made no allegation of corruption. Questioned by Mr. Herdman before the Committeo .he had stated , that Garlick had been appointed, not for his fitness, but for some reason which they did not know. If Mr. Allen had made inquiries he would have found experts in Swedish drill better qualified than Garlick. With regard to the third charge mentioned by Mr. Herdman, ho held that that had been amply proved by his witness. With regard to the first charge—that of incompetence—he did not think there was one man in the country who would dare to say that Royd Garlick was a Swedish drill expert. Mr. Allen said that charges had been made before tho House by Messrs. Forbes and Laurenson. If these gentlemen intended to bring evidence in support of their charges, he would prefer to hear it'before entering upon his defence. There was some delay while Messrs. Forbes and Laurenson were sent for. When Mr. Laurenson arrived be was informed by the chairman that tho Committee wished to know when he could give evidence in support of his charges. Mr. Laurenson said that he objected t,i being called before the' Committee. The chairman: You made certain statements in tho House, and tho Committee wishes to know if you are prepared to substantiate them. Mr. Laurenson: When I express myself before the House I object to boing cnlM beforo a committeo. The matter or what I say is one between me and my constituents, not between me and a committee. Tho chairman: You havo mado a charge.of a personal character against the Minister. You said that ho appointed a personal friend, without knowing his qualifications. Havo you anv evidenco to offer in suppont of that statement? Mr. Laurenson: I didn't know I would bo called before tho Committee. When will the Committee sit again? The chairman: When will you be ready to go on ? Mr. Laurenson: To-morrow. It was decided to adjourn until 3 n.m. to-day. Tho charges made by Mr. Laurenson will then be.gono on with, and Mr. Forbes will also bo given an opportunity to support his charges. It is expected that the. charges will bo finished to-day, and that Mr. Allen will then be free to stato his side of the case. „