MR. ROYD GARLICK'S APPOINTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1845, 3 September 1913, Page 8

MR. ROYD GARLICK'S APPOINTMENT.

4 COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY. MINISTER'S EVIDENCE. NO "PERSONAL OR POLITICAL FRIENDSHIP." . THAT £600 A YEAH. ■/ ; Tho committee of investigation sot up by tho House of Representatives to inquire iiito the appointment of llr. Lloyd Garlick to tho position of Director of Physical Education, met .again! yesterday aftornoon, when the Minister for Education (tlie Hon. James Allen) gavo evidence in answer to the charges which had been made in the -House and by previous witnesses at the inquiry. llr. AVilford suggested that Mr. Allen should call his witnesses singly, and that they should not bo allowed to bo in tho room to hear the ©vidence of ono another. lio had followed this course with his witnesses. Mr. Allen said that Messrs. Hogben and Garlick should bo allowed to remain in the room. Mr. AVilford: Thero are no charges against them. I said at tho outset that I congratulated .Boyd Garlick. I still do so. The chairman: There certainly is an accusation against him of incompetency. Mr. AVilford: 1 make no accusation against Mr. Hogbcn. Mr. Allen: He advised me, and you say that advice was wrong. Mr. Wiliorcl: If thero is any accusation against Mr. Hogbcn, you make it yourself. Mr. Allen's Reply. Tho committco decided to allow Mr. Ilogben and Mr. Garlick ! to remain in j tho room. The Hon. Jas. Allen then proceeded to make his statement in justification I of his action in making tho appointj ment. Three charges, he said, had been made. Tho first was that of Mr. G. Laurenson, that ho (Mr. Allen) had appointed a personal friend. That charge had been dealt with, and he thought it unnecessary to make any further reference to it. Tho second charge' was also of a personal nature—that ho had appointed a political friend. That charge had been mado, not so much directly as by insinuation. Mr. AVilford, speaking in the llouso oil July 4, had said that tho appointment was of tho nature of "spoils to tho victors." Ho thus inferred that the appointment was a party appointment, mado to a political friend. Mr. AVilford had also said that_Mr. Garlick had been appointed, not for the reason of his fitness, but "for somo reason which he could not ascertain." From his earlier words it- was reasonable to assumo that lie meant that the appointment was political., Mr. G. Forbes had also stated that the appointment was a party one. Ho did not actually say that this particular appointment was political, but that it was the general opinion that.it W'as. In support of this contention ho had quoted tlie. "Lyttelton Times." No one, said Mr. Allen, could know better than himself how much truth there was in this charge mado by tho "Lyttelton Times." He did not want to call tho "Lyttelton Times," but he should bo glad to liavo,them there, and hear what they had to say. "Spoils to tho Victors." AVitli regard to such charges, he had' nothing more to say-than this—he did not know Mr. Royd Garlick's politics, he had never inquired about them, and lie did not know them now. In making tho appointment he had considered nothing whatever except who was the best man, and he had tried to appoint tho best man, without any thought of "spoils to the victors." He could say that-ho had never asked Mr. Garlick about his politics, nor , had lio asked anyone else about them. There had been somo rumour that Mr. Garlick's ]>olitics had influenced tho appointment, and ho had inquired into this phase of tho matter. He did not know whore the rumour camo from, or whether tho committee had heard it, but it had come to his ears, and ho had taken tho trouble to l ascertain how much truth there was in tlio rumour. He read a letter from Mr. Royd Garlick, stating that his wife took no interest in politics, and flatly contradicting the statement that slio had" been ever associated with any political body. The rumour, Mr. Allen explained, was that Mrs. Garlick had been a prominent member of ail association formed in connection with the Reform party. That,' Mr. Allen continued, disposed of those two charges—that he had appointed a personal friend, and that he had appointed a political friend. . If the other side bad any further evidence to bring lie would bo pleased to liear it. They had nover brought a tittle of evidence that ho had known Mr. Garlick or his politics. Question of Competency. Tho third chargo was that he had appointed'an incompetent man. Before he dealt with this charge ho wanted to mako it quit-o clear that Mr. AVilford had confined his attention right through to Swedish drill, but that was. not.his original charge. On July 4 ho had said in the Houso that the Education Department was boing starved while tho country could afford to giva Mr. Lloyd Garlick £600 a year for running tho physical culture business in connection with the schools. Mr. Allen drew the Committee's attention to the fact that ho had used the phrase "physical culture." t That_ was something moro than Swedish drill.' Still, tho evidence had been confined entirely to tho question of Swedish drill. The Department would prove that Sir. Garlick did know Swedish drill. It was tho witness's own opinion, and he hoped it would bo tho opinion of the Committee, that he know more of that subject than any one of the witnesses who had been called by Mr. Wilford. No evidence had been called to prove that Mr. Garlick was not a physical culturist. Tho syllabus adopted by tho Department was one which did not profess to teach Swedish drill, but something based on Swedish drill, and a great, deal more than that. The proposed syllabus had been recommended to liirn by a strong committco —of which ho would havo more to say later—and ho had taken steps to satisfy himself that tlio advice of tho Committee was sound. Tho order for the books of exercises had arrived in London while he was tbore, and tho High Commissioner had quite rightlv submitted it to him beforo sending it on. Before he authorised the placing of the order, ho went to the English Board of Education, and asked for advico with regard to tho book which he proposed to introduce into Now Zealand schools. Ho met Sir Georgo Newman, a medical man,, who was ill chargo of this kind of work for tho English board, and had talked the wliole subject over with him. Sir Gcor«'p had said that the bookwas "the latest tiling for children, and that they could got nothing better. It was tlio most nn-to-date manual on the subject, embodied the latest ideas, ,ind was not likely to be changed for mnnv vears. . Mr, "Wilford: I novor questioned that ..l)©oiu .

Mr. Allen: Allow me. I never in- < terrupted you. 1 Mr. Wilford: Only once. Tho Man and His Book. Mr. Allen continued that the book . was based on Swedish drill, and it also contained breathing exercises not in Swedish drill. It contained only part of tho Ling system, of which there ivero at least four modifications. The witnesses had spoken of only one, and that one was not in tho book. Tho New Zealand scheme included tho nutrition, general health, and physical training of tho children. It did not mean only tho teaching of physical drill. There were lour medical officers appointed to work with the Department's stall', and would work hand.- in , hand with them. Tho medical officers wero engaged in tho classification of children, and when this work was completed, the instructors would, deal with the children accordingly. Tho system of Swedish drill on which the scheino was based was that of "educational _ gym- ' nasties." Thero had been no evidence > before iiic committee of this system. , It liad been chosen as suitablo for - children of school age. The book also included some things outside of Swedish " drill, such as new games and breathing exercises not dealt with in the > Ling system. It was not Swedish i drill which they had been after. They , had desired to equip tho children of tlie Dominion by means of physical culture for the better carrying out of their 1 duties in life. ' The Minister then went on to deal > with the questio'i of tho director's sal- . ary. It would bo plain to tho committ tee what wero the objects of the Government when they established this . position. Surely £600 was not too high , a salary for a man w'lio could properly carry out this work. It meant the emi ploymcnt of a physical expert who could ; by tho exercise of his abilities outside earn as much as tho Department could give him. The Director nrust not only be L ablo to teach physical drill and physical cuture, but must also be able to orgau- , isc, and to deal with children after they had been classified. The children would ! be classified by tho medical officers under a scheme already drawji up by Mr. . Royd Garlick. The training would in- ; elude that of children with special de-fects-—spinal and respiratory.- These would require special treatment, and Mr. Garlick was competent to deal with . them. There was no one more comi potent. That would bo proved by medical evidence. Dr. Harclwick Smith and, I Dr. EJizabeth Gunn had studied the i breathing exercises in the book, and - had found tlieai thoroughly sound. £603 a Year. Beforo tho appointment had been > niade, Mr. Allen continued, tho ques- < tion of tho salary to be paid to the Di- ■ rector was submitted to tho House. In | tho Supplementary Estimates for 1912-13 i an item of £600 had appeared for this ' very purposo, and every member of tlio ■ House had the opportunity to challenge i it. It was rather late in the day i for members to object to it now. He > contended that tlie Houso had approved of tho proposed salary. Tho appointment ' had been made eight days after tho t item was passed. 1 At first, said Mr. Allon, Mr. Garlick ■ refused tlio appointment. He had a I good business of his own. He had not I mado a net profit of £600-in 1911, but s his cxpensos that year had been very 1 heavy. In 1912.'1 ie would assuredly have ■ mado £600, and this year his profit 1 would probably havci been greater. A » man coidd not bo expected to leave a profitable and growing business unless ' a sufficient salary wero provided for 1 him. Mr. Garlick had also had another ■ reason. Ho had boon offered'the busip liess of Mr. Listrom, of Melbourne —a 1 very good business, and ho was inclined i to take it. In these circumstances - a i salary of £600 was fully justified. No objection to the amount had been mado until after the appointment was made, and then it was not because the post was not worth it, but because of tho individual who had been appointed. He thought this was hardly fair. It had also been stated during tho courso of tho inquiry, said Mr. Allen, that ho had taken no trouble about the ! matter, that he had mado tho appoint--1 ment in a haphazard way, and that ho ■ had not considered Mr. Garlick's qualifications. This ho absolutely denied, ' and evidence would be-called- to 6how | that tho statement was utterly unfounded. * No Compstitlon. • slr. Allen dealt next with the con- ' tention that tho position should havo 1 been advertised. AVhen ho came into ■ office, Cabinet decided to.'change from 1 the junior cadet system to one of physical training. Ho had himself fdlt- very ■ strongly on this matter, and ho had | been backed up by the Education Com--1 mission. At this time tho cadet system was perfectly chaotic. The com- . mandant, Major Macdonald, had gone ■ Homo for training, and his place had • been taken by his subordinate, Captain • Stevens. Captain ' Stevens got at 1 loggerheads with General. Godley, • and tho witness deemed it wise that I Stevens should not remain in charge of ■ tlio cadets, and transferred him back to 1 the Defence Department. Thero was ; therefore no ono in chargo of tho cadets, : who were in their last days. It was ' important that someone should be ap--1 pointed at once. After consulting the Inspector-General, ho had appointed Mr. Brown, of the ; Education Department, to take temporary charge of tho ; work. Mr. Brown accepted only on ' the condition that ho should bo reliovcd at the earliest possiblo moment. It therefore became necessary that the permanent appointment should be made as soon a3 possiblo. Perhaps if that necessity had not been forced upon him, lio might have advertised in England. He knew at the time there was no 0110 else in Now Zealand with Mr. Royd Garlick's qualifications, and he had come to the conclusion that 110 could not waste time, since thero was a man in the Dominion capable of filling tho position. He did .not see then, and did not sco now, tho necessity for advertising in New Zealand. The Department kpew the men likely to apply, and some of them did actually apply. Another reaBon was that Mr. Garlick was quite independent of tho Department, that lie did not want tho position. He had said that if the position wero advertised ho should not apply. It was not an uncommon thing for appointments to ho mode without their being advertised. Dr. Monk, District Health Officer at Auckland, with a salary of £500, had been so appointed in July, 1913. Ho could give another half-dozen instances if he wished. There was 110 real demand of Ministers to advertise if they knew where to got the best pan for a position. He had been satisfied, and was still satisfied, that he bad found the man he needed. Tho matter was one of urgency, and if ho was satisfied, what reason was tbore for delay? I Matter V/ell Considered. When lie came into office, Mr. Allen ( > continued, ho was very keen on this matter, and had thought it out long be--1 fore ho came into office, and ho wa3 de- . 1 termined to take the greatest care. He 1 drow out a memorandum describinc his , 1 scheme, and submitted it to tho Inspec- ( tor-General for criticism. The outcome ' was that a. committee was set up to re--1 ))or |; on it. The committee included the . Inspector-General, representing the Dc--1 partment, and General Godley, roprc- ' senthie tlio military. One idea lie had 1 had was that the physical training of the children would fit them for their I military training when they reached r senior cadet age. Also 011 the oommit- ; tee were Drs. Hardwick Smith and Eliz- . aboth Gunn. He had also wished to . appoint two physical experts—a man 1 and a lady. For these appointments, j 1 Mr. Royd Garlick was recommended to ' him by* Drs. Smith and Makgill, and Mrs. Heap, of Auckland, by the Inspec- : ; tor-Ganoral. Dr. Makgill's recommonJlattoa stated ihat Mr. Gwlick ".worked.!

on sound, scientific lines," and was a capablo man. The committeo had mot and had reported on his memorandum. The scheme having been decided on, it became necessary to appoint a director. The Inspector-General know both Hornibrook and Dully (previous witnesses) and others also. Ho recommended Sir. Royd Garlick. Ho had asked Mr. Garlick to accept the position, but lio refused, and it was only after ho had used some pressure that ho could induce him to take it. The salary of £000 had already been fixed by Parliament. The appointment was made on November 15, 1012. Dealing with the question of Mr. Royd Garlick's experience, Mr. Allen said that hp had ascertained that it was considerable. He had had six years' training in Swedish drill, mostly at the Melbourne Grammar School. From 1002 tt 1912 lie had carried on his profession in Wellington. Many knew him, including several medical men whom ho (Mr. Allen) had consulted. Ho had done n gooc deal of work for tho hospital, and this was just the .kind of work which thoj hoped to do amongst tho children pre sently. . Mr. Garlick was capable o] treating children specially. He wanted it understood that lie liad not been "oul after" a physical expert. He wantec more than that. The proposed classifi cation of children could not be carried out for some time, and it was specia eases such as this classification woule give that ho had had in his mind. H< hoped the people of New Zealand wouk realise that there was more in tho sys tern than a mere scheme of Swcdisl drill. In a few years, if no further at tacks were made on the scheme, ant nothing done to discredit it, they wouk find that they had a good scheme, ai efficient staff, and the results would bi what they had hoped for. Mr. Wilford's Witnesses. Mr. Allen then dealt with several statements made by various witnesses, and recalled that tho witness Johnston had told tho committee that the stafi was efficient. He also detailed the work that had been done by the stafl since they started, emphasising especially the fact that their work had completely altered tho opinions of headmasters and other teachers, who had come to their classes full of doubts, when not openly hostile. In conclusion, ho said that ho guaranteed that in a few years the average boy and girl would be better equipped to do tlieii work ill school, and their work in aftei life, and this was what thoy were looking for. Not only this, but thoy hoped that those children also who wero now suffering from spinal and respirators trouble would also be turned out from [ the schools fully equipped for tlieii work. Minister Examined. In answer to questions by Mr. Herdman, Mr. Allen said that the New Zea- | land system was different from that oi England, which did not go so far. The instructors would have control of 160,000 primary school children. Mr, Garlick started to v organise his staff and sot to work almost immediately after his appointment. He was sent to Australia to see tho latest ideas there, and began straight after his return. The first work dono with teachers was at Napier in June. Since then several districts had been visited. To Mr. Sidoy: Dr. Makgill's recommendation was that Mr. Garlick should bo appointed to tho committeo, and the witness had afterwards consulted him and Dr. Ilardwick Smith as to Mr. Garlick's fitness for tho post of .director, The committeo had made no recommendation as to tho appointment oi director. Tho committeo reported or [ tho scheme as a whole. Mr. Garlick, when offered a salary of £600, asked for £800, and the witness thought the appointment was "off." 1 He had nevei mado a smaller offer, than £600. To Mr. Statham: Tie had never hearc a suggestion that tho salary was toe largo until tho appointment had actually been made. Ho did not think if was necessary always to advertise positions! It depended very much whether a Department could place its finger directly on the man it wanted. He liad thought it wise to send Mr. Garlic! to Australia to study tho organisatior there. Ho had certainly not senl to learn physical training. That state ment was one of the several inaccura cies which had been mado public witl regard to the appointment. To Mr. G. M. Thomson: Tho witnosi left for England on September 15. Hi was certainly very busy beforo lie left but he gave great care to tho matter The urgency ho mentioned had nothinj whatever to do with his approaching de parture from tho Dominion. To Mr. Guthrie: A schedule of dntie: had been drawn up for Mr. Royd Gar lick. 'This schedule had been includet in.his letter of appointment. His du ties included work in all kinds o schools, including the industrial am special schools. It fas hoped that the; would some day bo able to deal witl feeble-minded children. _ Tho scheduli was a most comprehensive one. To the chairman: Ho did not tliinl that it would have been wise for liin to wait until he went Homo beforo mak ing tho appointment, in order that h could get advice. From what ho ha< seen at Homo, he was satisfied hi could liavo learnt nothing of valui there. A Professional Appointment. The Chairman: When members of thi House saw tho item on the Estimates might they not liavo thought that th< appointment was to bo a professiona one? There are magistrates with, i salary of only £500. ' Mr. Allen: I hold that the appoint ment was a professional ono. The Chairman: Mr. Garlick waß ap pointed under the rules of tho Civi Service, and is disqualified from enter ing into business on his own account Is ho engaged in business?—"Certainl; not to my knowledge." The Chairman: It is generally agreee that a man and his wife are one.— can't say' anything about that. Yoi had better ask Mr. Garlick himsel: about that." Mr. Allen was- submitted to a _ verj long cross-examination by Mr. Wilford Ono of the points on which ho was close ly questioned was with regain! to Mr Garlick's visit to Australia immediate]? after his appointment. Mr. Allen saie lie was sent to Australia to study the system Salt mse there, and to learn fron tttioir mistakes. Mr. Wilford: How long did you give him to learn. this?—" Two, or three weeks." The man _ you seait. to Australia wai in your opinion a great administrate anel organiser?—"So ho is; ho has aince proved it." Mr. Garlick does not personally -instruct teachers? —"No; ho teaches the instructors, and thoy pass it on to the teachcrs." He is teaching Johnston? —"Yes." You said to-day that Johnston jhad said- the staff was efficient? —"Efficieni for tho work they are now doing." You believo lie ris right?—"Oi course." You believe ho is right when ho, says that Mr. Royd Garlick is iiot efficient F —"No." So you use him in ono part of your ca.so and not in the other? —"That's ®>." When Johnston says Mr. Garlick is incapable of teaching Swedislh drill, do you believo him? —"No. I believe him when I know lie is right-." If you admit Mr. Garlick is inefficient, your case is "bust." (I/aughter.)—"You had to prove his inefficiency, and you haven't dono it." That's a matter for the country to decide,- said Mr. Wilford. Mr. Wilford read a list of some ten responsible officers of the Civil Service who receive salaries lower or not greater than that of Mr. Royd Garlick. ■As he read each one 1m asked Mr. Allen if he thought that particular one should not receive more than Mr. Garlick. Mr. Allon replied eaoli time that he would jnoko aw comparisons. His ooiitention

a was solely that tho salary was not too :t great for ail officer who was called upon to perform such important work as tliat ;t demanded of Mr. Garlick. •. Mr. Wilford: Wliat does he do?— jl "Ho is organiser of a big Department, a trains all instructors, arranges for their '. work, aiul will have the training of / tho special teachers." _ You had an application from Mr. HarJl rison? —"I do not remember. I may ... have had." |_ Mr. Wilford handed Mr. Allen a lot- ~ ter which had been received by him , j from Harrison, stating that his appli- ' cation had been recoived, and would be j considered when the appointment was i to bo made. Mr. Wilford then asked: Did you keep * faith with him? —"Yes." r Now, Mr. Allen —"So far as I know." " Did you say Garlick was a Swedish n drill expert?—"l said that ho had a [(r thorough knowledgo of it." £ Of the elementary principles?— ~i "More than that." ; s Of advanced Swedish drill? —"Ho ~, knows tho principles of advanced Swedg. isli drill." jf Could lio teach a class? —"Yes." , f j lie couldn't when he went to Dalton's ',lj school? —"You will find tho statements about Dalton's school incorrect." j. With regard to your statements re , ( j Mr. Garlick's earnings, it has just ocal curred to 1110 that a good way to test Id tho matter would bo to look up his in[e como tax returns. —"I know nothing U about that." s _ lam only making a suggestion.— .]" "Make what suggestions you like." Did you see his income tax returns? I( 1 —"Yes." |(j Did he make them before lie was ap,n pointed?—" You had better ask Mr. J0 Garlick himss'f." In answer to further questions by Mr. Wilford tho witness said that lie remembered tho exhibition given by tho Now il Zealand cadets on tlieir return from s, Canada. He had been very pleased 11 with the work of Sergeant-Major Parkcfl, ff their instructor, and liad congratulated o him. He did not know who' had inff structed tliem previously. He did not i- know that Major Hume had acted as 1- ar, unpaid assistant instructor at Mr. 1- Rovd Garlick's scliool. d The committee at tliis stage adjourned 3, until 3 p.m. to-day. Tho first witness i, to be callod to-day will bo Mr. Hoga ben, who will be followed by Mr. Garr( lick.