A SERIOUS ALLEGATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 25 July 1907, Page 2

A SERIOUS ALLEGATION.

In his report to tile Education Board last night Mr A. Hooker, the Truant Officer, sadd:—l would again like to draw your attention to the manner in which parents will beat the Act. A child was reported for playing truant, and the parent being an old offender, 1 issued m summons- The afternoon hefore the summons was returnable, at 4,30, the daughter called at my house and asked if I could not withdraw '-he case, as they had no excuse to offer, and did not want the father to know about the summons. My reply was that the case was in the hands of the Court, and I could do nothing in the matter. Then next morning the parent (the father) appeared at the Court and presented a

doctor's certificate that the child had been ill on that particular week. It appears to me now that it ia a very ea}f|y matter for a parent to go and give )x doctor 7s Cd and get n certificate. I consider it is time that this matter was laid before .the Minister for Education." (Here followed the name's of the paronts and the doctor). Mr Trimble moved the adoption of the report. Mr Faull moved am amendment that the portion regarding doctors' certificates be referred to the Minister] flbV Education. Mr Morton considered the Board should enquire before sending on any! such resolution. "I

Members agreed that the Board ought . to _ make enquiries, it being stated that this was not an isolated case—such things had been previously reported. Mr Monkhouse said there was an inference that he did not believe. The truant officer's report Inferred that nl doctor had issued a certificate, for illness where no illness existcS. In many cases lie considered doctors were quite . justified in giving certificates after the | recovery of the child. Children w9ro kept at home for minor illnesses, but | the parents did not bother afcout payling 7s (id for a medical .gertificatci of exemption. They thought no more -f lit till the summons arrived", and then they went to the doctor who knew: )>t the illness. Mr Kennedy said the Truant Officer was quite right in reporting. Mr Trimble considered parents had no right to complain if they were prosecuted after one of these minor illnesses, for every parent knew that exemption certificates were obtainable) without the doctor's certificate. Mr ABlam moveet that the Chairman and Mr Tisoh be a committee to ehfs quire into the matter. Mr Faull considered this an important niajttev. If the truant inspector issuer! twenty summonses and all the parents got these doctor's certificates, who was going to pay the costs? Mr Morison seconded.

Mr Monkhouse opposed the motion, because he didn't believe a . case hadbeen made out for an enquiry. An enquiry implied doubt, and lie' had .no doubt of the doctor's conduct, ff-g. "Board should not cast such a slur Vn the doctors by holding such an enquiry. Mr Morison said his idea in .seconding was (o protect the doctors. The report had been discussed in open bonrrt, and I was now public property. The motion was carried: That the Chairman and Mr Tisch be requested lo make enuirics into the. assertion made by the Trmnt Officer Tejrarding the doctors issuing certificates after summonses have been issued.