LIBRARY SCHOOL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 71, Issue 37, 23 November 1950, Page 6

LIBRARY SCHOOL

MINISTER FAVOURS CONTINUANCE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Minister of Education, Mr R. M. Algie, said to-day that he had once thought that the National Library School could be disbanded. “You have succeeded in convincing me. perhaps against my will, that the school should stay,” he told graduates at a ceremony in Wellington to-day. The Minister said that when he took office he was looking for ways to save money. With his lack of knowledge about the school then, and the prejudice that always arose from lack of knowledge, he thought the country could do without the school. He argued it out with the director of the school, Mr G. T. Archey, and the director won the argument. The Minister said he h&d been convinced, “but there are others besides me to be considered.” ' The Minister continued:. “There are 14 other members of the Cabinet, and though I do not wish to criticise them, I doubt whether they have any more knowledge about the school than 1 had.” Members of the Cabinet had to be persuaded that the Library School graduates were members of a profession, and, as such, needed professional training. The Minister reminded graduates of their duty to serve the public, and added: “You and those before you, are my salesmen in the field, to help me go ahead, and to ensure that others will follow in this service to the public.”