LOYALTY IN SCHOOLS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 July 1940, Page 6

LOYALTY IN SCHOOLS

ASSURANCE BY MINISTER. QUESTION OF FAIR PLAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) « WELLINGTON. This Day. A declaration that he would use every power to prevent disloyal persons from teaching in schools was made by the Minister of Education, Mr Mason, during discussion on the education vote. Asking for a statement on the Minister’s attitude, Mr Roy (Opposition. Clutha) said a complaint had been made to him and he had been unable to investigate it. Mr Mason: “I would like to know that the case was real.” Mr Roy said the report was that a child had told its mother of statements made by a teacher. The things were definitely disloyal. In cases like that would the Minister allow the teacher to continue in the profession if disloyalty was being taught? “I will answer that straight away,” replied Mr Mason. “I should exert every power I had to see that a disloyal teacher was not teaching the children in our schools. I would make no hesitation whatever about that. I must say that I do not think it is a fair thing to bring forward a suggestion of disloyalty on the representations made to the honourable member of which he confesse she is entirely uncertain.” Mr Roy: “I have not had time to investigate it.” Mr Mason: “I think that is not fair. He should not put forward anything till he has verified it."