THE MARTIN CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 250, 21 October 1924, Page 8

THE MARTIN CASE.

-IQUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. ITS LEGAL ASPECT. (By Telegraph.-.Sooclal to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Monday. The Minister of Justice has replied to Jlr. V. H. Potter's question whether he would consider the desirability of amending the Police Offences Act to make it an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment for any person or persons to harbour an infant against the wishes of the parent or parents. Mr. Potter's question related to the Epsom Grammar School case. The Hon. C. J. Parr said the matter appeared to be sufficiently dealt with by the Infants Act of 1908. Section « of which provides that the Supreme Court may make an order as to the custody of and right of acccsu to an infant. Any one not complying with sucli an order would be liable to punishment for contempt of Court. Mr. Potter further asked the Minister whether he would consider the advisability of making it a ground for instant dismissal from the staff of a State primary or secondary school 'for any teacher to use but or her influence as a teacher to proselytise or attempt to proselytise any pupils under tuition, or to interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, tlie religious belief of any pupil: and. further, whether he would consider making tlie re-employment of any teacher dismissed on tlie aforesaid grounds impossible by the Department, or by any authority acting under the Department. The Minister pointed out that a teacher could be dismissed for unfitness or misconduct under Section 10l of the Education Act. Assuming that a teacher was dismissed on this ground, and that his appeal was not sustained, such a teacher could be pre .'ented from being further employed by any authority under the Department only by the constitution of a teachers' register, from which the removal of a teacher's name would prevent his further employment. The establishment of such a register, added Mr. Parr, was now under consideration. _M?.A. RESOLUTION. The following resolution was carried by the Dominion Executive of the Protestant Political Association at its last meeting held in Wellington:— "This executive expresses its regret that the board of the Auckland Grammar School has abandoned the inquiry into the case of Miss Martin and the alleged attempt to proselytise by a teacher under the jurisdiction of the board, and expresses the opinion that, in accepting Miss Terry's resignation when there were allegations of at least one other similar case of proselytising, the board intended to burke a public inquiry. A full knowledge of the facts justifies the statement that not only were the pupils themselves indignant and the parents under great anxiety because of the revelations made, but the teachers of the-staff have come under suspicion. The failure of the board to > conduct an open inquiry to assure both parents and children, and" to clear the teachers of suspicion, is therefore highly reprehensible, since it leaves the reputation of the school under a cloud, and the public confidence in the integrity of übe school as an unsectarian institution shattered. Tills executive respectfully urges and demands that the Minister of Eddcattoh take action to clear the State secondary schools and the staff's of suspicion, to re-establish public confidence, and to assure parents and children alike that any attempt at proselytising in State schools will be met by severest penalties. Further, this executive expresses the strong opinion that tho member, of the Auckland Grammar School Board should be called upon to resign as having proved themselves incompetent to safeguard the interests- and good name of that great school."