TECHNICAL COLLEGE INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1926, Page 8

TECHNICAL COLLEGE INQUIRY.

THE SEVENTH DAY. ADDRESSES BY COUNSEL. DECISION RESERVED. When the Seddon Memorial Technical College inquiry was continued this morning, Mr. Goldstein said that he had advised Mr. Stephenson, a member of the teaching staff, not to give evidence, as there had been nothing in the' inquiry reflecting upon the latter's character or ability. In 1925 the cost of material had been greatly reduced. That did not indicate that there had been theft, although formerly there may have been a shocking waste of material. Mr. Towle: We have not made any suggestion of dishonesty against Mr. Stephenson. Mr. Leary: None whatever. H. A. Jones, formerly president of the Technical College Teachers' Association, gave evidence in connection with the reasons that led to the formation of another branch of the association. Resentment had been expressed by the teachers at statements made by Mr. Lee in Parliament, and an allegation that the association was a creature of Mr. Park's. R. F. Barter, a member of the Board, said that he took it that statements were to be made against a member of Parliament, also Mr. Purtell. They should be given the right to appear. The Commissioner said that all sorts of matters were bound to crop up, and it was impossible to cite everybody. The witness did not pursue his point, and the evidence at this stage} was declared closed. Main Issues Clouded. Addressing the Commissioner, Mr. Towle said that the main issues of the inquiry had become clouded through the efforts of Mr. Johnstone and .Mr. Goldstein on behalf of the teachers whom tltey represented. The board's attitude was not to attack any teacher, nor bad the board asked for an inquiry. The suggestion that the object of the inquiry was to obtain a recommendation that three teachers should be dismissed was grossly incorrect. The inquiry would have been futile unless all the facts had come out. One feature had been the episode of the photographed letter. Mr. Allen had seen fit to obtain it; it had become a corner 6tone of the inquiry, but it had proved to have been laid upon Band. If it had come out that there ''had been a disturbing element, it was within the scope of the inquiry to decide what it was. Mr. Johnstone had said that it was not within the power of the Commissioner to recommend the dismissal of any teacher. The 'Commissioner, however, had power to ascertain the cause of the trouble, and the cause could be made a clear finding. The board did not wish harm to anybody, and was only concerned with the good and the efficient progress of the college. No direct charge of any kind had been made against the board, nor had the board approached any teachers and asked them to resign. The Commissioner said one teacher appeared to have been tinder a misconception. He had not suggested that any teacher should resign. Concluding, Mr. Towle said that it could be claimed that the college, under Mr. Park's management and the board's control, had progressed satisfactorily. A Unique Inquiry. Mr. Leary said that the inquiry was unique in that it was into the recent lifework of one man. There was not a clergyman without a disgruntled parishioner, any doctor without a dissatisfied patient, nor a lawyer without some displeased client. Mr. Park controlled nearly 100 teachers and 2500 pupils. It was striking that not a parent nor a teacher could be found to give evidence against him. There had never been such a complete breakdown in a prosecution. Mr. Laing, and his counsel, Mr. Finlay, had come into it with a flourish of trumpets, to try and make the best of a few miserable whispers that they had heard. The allegations against Mr. Park had completely failed, and it was for the Commissioner to get to the hottom of the trouble. The Commissioner: If the board is dissatisfied with the conduct of any teachers, it has the powers under the Education Act to dismiss them without [the machinery of a commission. In conclusion, Mr. Leary said tlinf the inquiry would be so many empty words unless the element of friction were removed. At the close, counsel present thanked the Commissioner for the patient hearing, that he had given. » The Commissioner said that his find: ing would he announced in due course.