DISAPPROVED

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1932, Page 8

DISAPPROVED

TEACHERS’ ADVOCATE

STATEMENTS TO THE PRIME

MINISTER

CHRISTCHURCH May 21

Condemnation of what was termed extravagant language reported to have been used by the secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute, Mr J!. A. Parkinson, when addressing th; Prime Minister, Mr Forbes was expressed at the meeting of the Canterbury Education Board yesterday. The remarks objected to were made by Mr Parkinson, when speaking on behalf of the institute, as part of a deputation representing the combined lie Service organisations which pro tested against a further wage cut. According to the “Public Service Journal,” Mr Parkinson said, in referring to teachers, that “there were other, who had lost the remote allowance which was an unjustifiable steal, tlukind of thing that sent Charles Stuar' to the block: not a word of justification could ever be said for it.” It was decided, on the motion of Mill. Wild, seconded by Mr H. .1 Tlignelul, “Tlmt the board places on records its strong, disapproval of the exaggerated and unjustifiable ■statement*' made to the Prime Minister regard in the withdrawal of remote allowances to teachers, and repeats its former'.v expressed opinion that this is a direction in which savings can he made with least hardship.” A copy of the resolution is to be sent to the Prime Minister.

“A BRIBE.”

-Mr Wild in introducing the matter, qnoted the statement reported to him been made by Mr Parkinson in th. “Public • ScirvA-o Journal.” He said til-it lie took strong exception to th expression. He wanted the board t consider the circumstances under which the allowance was first grante... Some years ago, teachers would no go to the country and the' Education Department, weakly, he thought bribed them with this allowano. He instanced a case where a girl, teaching twelve children, was drawing £290 voile* a young man, teaching five children, was getting only £75. The board had a right to expect that teachers should make careful wellbalanced statements.

in seconding the motion, Mr Bignel said that the hoard had a right to expect something better from its teachers than the expression “unjustifiable steal.!’

Mr W. A. Banks said that farmers, shopkeepers and labourers did not know, at the present time, whether they would have aiiv income at all. but the teachers had an assured income, although it had been reduced. The only teacher who had fairly put tlv- ■ p->'ition was Air Frank Milner, of Waitaki Boys’ High School, who Ini 1 pointed out to the teachers that thrv had their incomes while the rest of the community were not sure abou theirs. At the present time, the cry of the teacher was “self, self,” all the time.

A PECULIAR STATEMENT,

Mr C. S. Thompson said it seemed peculiar that/ Mr Parkinson should have used such extravagant language for extravagant words usually led 1i extravagant acts. Mr Parkinson had written to the newspapers stating that the troubles of to-day Were due to lac k of education. That did not seem to being keeping with his own words. Tht opinion that the great body of teachers (lid not agree with Mr Parkinson was expressed by Mr S. Smith. “1 think a great deal of trouble can be caused by extravagant statements,” said the chairman (Mr G. W. Armitage). He was sure that the vast majority of the teachers who had regard for the nobility of their profession would not associate themselves with the remarks made by Mr Parkinson. The motion was carried unanimously, and it was agreed to send a copy to the Prime Minister.