TEACHER’S PETITION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2908, 11 July 1925, Page 2

TEACHER’S PETITION.

RETXKTATEMEXT WANTED. In April. 1922, Alfred William l’age, a master at (he Christchurch Boys’ High School, was removed from his position and debarred from employment as a school teacher on the ground that he had refused to take the oath of allegiance ixeepi with the following reservation: “So long as this obligation continues not to conflict with what 1 consider to be my duty to God." Yesterday Mr E. J. Howard t Christchurch South) presented to Parliament a petition from Mr Page praying for the removal of his disabilities. The petition stated that others who, taking the oath, made the same reservation, had been appointed to, and were holding, positions as school teachers. Mr Page had signed an affirmation of allegiance, with his reservation added, witnessed by a solicitor, and had forwarded ii 'to the Minister of Education. The Minister and the Director of Education had both slated that the spirit of the oath was not intended to conflict with the reservation, that the petitioner’s religious convictions did not in their opinion make him unfit for teaching in schools, and that it was merely a legal technicality that debarred him fi mu his chosen profession. The petition also stated that a petition for his reinstatement had been forwarded to tbe Minisor by seeondurv school teachers.