“NO SOUL TO DAMN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 684, 8 June 1929, Page 16

“NO SOUL TO DAMN”

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S IMMUNITY MINISTER’S NEW POLICY The Education Department is a nebulous body, impossible to kick, and with no soul to damn," said Mr. F. A. Garry, president of the Auckland Headmasters’ Association, in proposing the toast of “The Education Department,” at the annual meeting of the association last evening. The Hon. H. Atmore, Minister of I Kducation, who replied to the toast, first fixed upon this point of Mr. Garry’s. “I take full responsibility for the department,” said Mr. Atmore, “and if there’s anyone to kick I'm the man. I can’t see how a Minister can do otherwise.” He went on to say that the Minister was the elected representative of the people, and while he was guided by the advice of his experts it was for him to propound a policy, rnd all advice given was judged in relation to the policy laid down. Speaking on the question of policy the Minister said there had been disappointment concerning the alleged delay in making a formal anouncement of policy. He was not yet ready for that, and he did not propose to speak until he was ready. “You are the workers in the educational machine,” he said, “and I have freely sought advice from you and others. My decision in these things is final, but I will not make my decision until I’ve heard all the evidence. I want to evolve an educational system that will make our children superior to those of other countries. It will be a system adapted to New Zealand’s needs. “There is a new outlook on education,” he continued. “It is a great national co-operative movement, and our ideal democracy can only be reached through the agency of the teachers.”