VERY SUSPICIOUS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 304, 22 December 1921, Page 4

VERY SUSPICIOUS.

;! THE CARTE3EITON INQUISY. !! EXTRAORDINARY DISCLOSURES. [ CALL FOR FURTHER ACTION. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.! WELLIXGTOX, this daj. The Carterton School Committee was dissatisfied with the Education Board's inquiry into Miss Park's case, and sent a ', deputation to the Minister of Education Ito protest. They objected to the inquiry 1 being held in secret, and claimed that the board's finding was dead against the evidence. They took strong exception to a letter published by Miss Park, and said their views were "supported by the in- ■ spectors and headmaster of the school : This and other evidence \va*s suppressed, and they aaked the Minister to insist on it being published. Mr. Parr said the department had asked for notes of the evidence, and the board had refused to give them. The deputation went on to say that members of the committee and the director of education were rudely treated at the inquiry. Although the board itd exculpated Miss Park, it had taken a private undertaking from her that she would not repeat her conduct. Why did the board suppress this fact? I The Minister said, while loth to overrule an education board, he considered that the shutting out of the Press and the public from the inquiry was a grave mistake. The refusal of the board to let I its own members see the evidence was also a blunder. These facts, and the reI fusal to let the department see the cvi- ' dence must cause grave suspicion. The ' director of education, who was present, had supplied him with notes, which showed that most extraordinary methods had prevailed, indicating gross bias and unfairness, and predetermination of the issue. Moreover, the evidence given by I two headmasters who recently had Mjib Park under their charge, and by tie senior inspector of schools, showed that these impartial and expert witnesses were exceedingly dissatisfied with her and her attitude., and considered that her utterances were calculated to exert ! a baneful influence upon her classes in I the classroom. She had referred to the death of 2Curse Cavill and to the part played by the British Xavy in the war in a manner which drew a strong protest and condemnation ..from her headmasters. ■ Hβ would confer with the department as • to whether further action was not neeesI eary in the interests of ordinary justice.