WAR & EDUCATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1941, Page 4

WAR & EDUCATION

! COLLEGE GOVERNORS’ DISCUSSION DECISION OF TRIBUNAL SOUGHT. > TEACHERS AND MILITARY SERVICE. Following a. long discussion, it was decided to lodge appeals against, the calling up of the Principal, Air C. G. Ilancox, and a teacher, Mr Ji. .1. Fowler, for Territorial duties, ;it last night’s meeting of the W’airarap'i. College Board ol Governors. Leave of absence was granted one teacher, who could be replaced. Members of the board, in general, considered that an independent tribunal should decide whether the teachers’ services were more important at the College than in the Army. Applications for leave of absence were received from Messrs W. Ball and R. J. Fowler, two members of the College staff, to enable them to take up positions with the Army for the duration of the war. ■‘We arc not going to be left in the soup for the military authorities or anyone else. As a board we arc here to look after the interests of the children,” said the chairman, Mr W. R. Nicol. TIME FOR SACRIFICE. Mr A. Owen Jones pointed out that to win the war all had to make sacrifices, even the children. The GovernorGeneral had stressed the point that the prosecution of the war came first in his address in the Town Hall that afternoon. “We are here to decide whether it is a necessary sacrifice or not,” observed Mr F. M. Whyte. “As there is a man to relieve Mr Ball I wish to second Mr Jones’s motion that Mr Ball be granted leave of absence and that advice be forwarded to the Education Department that it is not intended to appeal.” Mr Jones moved that leave of absence be granted to Mr R. J. Fowler. Mr Nicol pointed out that it was extremely doubtful if Mr Fowler could be replaced. Mr G. G. Hancox (Principal) stated that there was an acute shortage of relieving teachers. It might be possible, however, to obtain a lady teacher. Mr Whyte said Mr Fowler was teaching matriculation students. “It is most unfortunate for the students that a change of teacher has to be considered at this time when they are so advanced in their studies,” said Mr T. Hanley. “I must point out that I have no objections to any of the teachers going overseas, but it is a different matter for the Territorials.” Mr J. D. O’Connor: “The present members of the Territorials will be going overseas.” “Any change in teachers must be detrimental to the pupils,” said Mr Hancox, in reply to a question. INTERESTS OF CHILDREN. “The pupils have been knocked from pillar to post, at the first part of the year, and now al the end of the year,” said Mr Whyte. Mr Nicol said that he had been assured, in Wellington, that it was impossible to get teachers. Mr O’Connor suggested that extra duties could be taken on by members of the staff to enable the men to be released. Mr Hancox said saturation point had been almost reached as far as extra duties were concerned. After further discussion it was decided to refer the matter to the DirectorGeneral of Manpower, through the Education Department, for his decision. CALL ON PRINCIPAL. The secretary then read a notice which advised Mr Hancox that, as officer commanding the First Ruahine Regiment, he would be required to enter camp, for the duration of the war, in the near future. Mr Nicol said that it would be impossible to replace Mr Hancox as Principal. Mr Hancox was in an awkward position, he said, and was making a big sacrifice, but he knew that Mr Hancox felt his duly lay with his regiment. Mr F. C. Daniell moved, and Mr Hanley seconded, that an appeal be made against Air Hancox being called up. Mr Jones said he wished to move an amendment that no appeal be made, but the chairman ruled it a direct negative, and out of order. Mr Nicol considered that the military authorities could look after their own end. There was no hope of replacing Mr Hancox, and there were between 400 and 500 children to consider, in addition to the children who would come up from the primary schools. Mr Jones said the present war was so serious that even children had to make sacrifices. The military authorities had called up men capable of carrying out their jobs. Mr Hancox, as O.C. of his regiment, felt he would serve his country best with his legiment, and Mr Fowler was in the same position. Mr L. T. Daniell said that Mr Hancpx’s life work was with the college. The college was becoming a wonderful institution. He considered that the fairest way out was to get a decision from the Director-General of Manpower. Mr Whyte agreed with Mr Daniell that the best way would be for a decision to be made by an independent tribunal. Mr Hancox, at the invitation of board members, gave his personal views on the matter. He said he regarded Mr Fowler as being indispensable to the Army and he sincerely hoped he would be able to take up his work. As regarded his service, he was loath to break his ties with the school, but his duty lay with training his battalion. He would be responsible for the training and possibly the lives of at least 850 men. He had had six months’ special training in that connection and he did not feel disposed to toss it aside. Mr Hancox said his ■ decision was that he should give his service to the Army. He would be willing to abide by a tribunal’s decision if the board considered an appeal ; should be made. Mr O’Connor said he agreed with Mr Jones that the war should be won first. The resolution which provided that an appeal should be made to the Dir-ector-General of Manpower through the Education Department, was put to j the meeting and carried. Mrs Hair, and I Messrs O'Connor and Jones voted : against the motion. ; Following further discussion a reso- j < lution was passed which provided for i a special meeting of the board being | convened if replacements could be found for Messrs Hancox and Fowler. 1