THE PARK CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2433, 25 May 1922, Page 2

THE PARK CASE.

VALIDITY OF REGULATIONS.

HON. FARR CITED AS DEFENDANT.

Wellington,./Las/ Night

In i he Supreme Court to-day, before His Honour, Mr -Justice Snlmond, argument was heard in the ease of -Jean Gladys Park, of Carterton, school teacher, against Christopher -James Parr, Minister of Education, and Arthur D. Thomson, retired assistant Public Service Commissioner. The Minister had instructed Mr Thomson to hold an inquiry into statements alleged to have been made by plaintiff in ronnoefion with her school duties.

On behalf of the plaintiff it was claimed that the regulation under which I lie Minister was proposing to cancel or suspend the license of plaintiff was ultra vires, and that if the regulation was valid (lie Minister had shown such bias as to disentitle him fo exercise the discretion conferred upon him by the regulation. Mr Myers, counsel for plaintiff, and the Solicitor-General, and with him Sir John Findlay and Mr Hart (Carterton) appeared for defendants.

The Minister of Education, the Solicitor-General, and Sir John Findlay contended that the Minister had a perfect right to hold an inquiry and cancel a certificate. Cases were quoted where a teacher was found guilty of a criminal act, and Ihe Board had merely accepted the teacher's'resignation, and the Minister had cancelled the certificate, rn the interests of the public, the Minister should have such power. II was evident that the Act iuUmded that tin l Minister should he aide' to exercise that power, Mr Myet". eontended it was highly dangetvuH for tin* Minister to he able to cancel certificates at will, as ihere would be no seenrily of tenure, fhrTeachers’ Institute know of no v-yae where the Minister hud exot'et-ed ippower under the Aet. The ease is untlnishod.