MR. COMBS AND EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 121, 15 February 1919, Page 10

MR. COMBS AND EDUCATION

Sir,—l am somewhat anxious to know whether it is Mr. Parkinson or the permanent secretary of the N.Z.E.I. who wrote the letter in your issue of February S. If Mr. Parkinson is writing; in his olficial capacity, when in the'' public Press ho state that a member of- the N.Z.E.1., a branch past president, and a delegate to conference, "has nothing 'to Kay oil education that is worth much attention," I very much question his wisdom. Mr. Parkinson is the drafter of an Education Bill -which was given precedence over other business for five conference days, and when branch remits were reached- the chairman moved that they be swept off. the order paper. As alt ordinary member of the N.Z.E.I. I resented such scant treatment of the branches' wishes,' and was further prompted to seek opportunity in the Press to discuss this Education Bill, but after reading the newspaper reports of the executive's complaints of certain members' distruct, I felt that the newspaper column was no place to cross swords in N.Z.E.1.. affaire. Now, if our paid secretary is to officially attack N.Z.E.I. members, the executive must be prepared to accept adverse criticism. Had Mr. Combs in his article attacked the N.Z.E.1., the case would have been different. I' sincerely hope that the Bill will be dealt with more tenderly than its drafter dealt with Mr. Combs.

If necessary, I can quote from the last six volumes of th>* official organ of the N.Z.E.I. to show that Mr. Combs has said 'things educationally worth while, whilst in N.Z.E.L he has proved himself to possess considerable initiative. , Playing a lone hand, he advocated several important. reforms which have . been, adopted. Those who ridiculed his proposals afterwards assisted to carry them through.

Though not in sympathy -with every phase of Mr, Combs's suggestions I thank you for affording him opportunity to express his views in' your columns. No teacher has proved himself a more courageous and able critic of our education service, and in the words of an ex-presi-dent in conference last month, let me sav, "Fie is'a speaker who always interests me."—l am, etc., - HEEBARTIAN. February 10.