THE VACANT POST.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 24 December 1926, Page 9

THE VACANT POST.

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION. VIEWS OF THE INSTITUTE. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. The following letter, dated December 20, has been forwarded .to/ the Minister of Education by the secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute (Mr. H. A. Parkinson): — '1 have the honour, by direction of the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute, to submit for your consideration the views of the executive on the appointment of Director of Education. The immediate occasion for this letter is the appearance in the 'Education Gazette , of the 16th inst. of an advertisement calling for applications for the .position of Director of Education. The advertisement announces that applications, close on the 22nd inst. .The executive is stipngly of opinion, that much longer, time should be allowed for the receipt of applications, as the fixing of so early a date must, severely restrict the- number of applications. "The advertisement contains, also, the phrase 'age preferably between 35 and 45/ and the executive desires to point out that its inclusion may have a very injurious effect. For a position so important there ehould be no restriction on applications, but, on the contrary, the widest range ehould be encouraged; I "The executive' would very eeriouely point out that, having regard to the importance of the position, the occasion should not be looked upon as a mere opportunity of giving some deserving officer a promotion in his turn. It would urge that the importance of the education eystem to the development of the nation demands that no minor considerations euch ac age or present occupation should be allowed to operate against securing the wideet range of applicants, and selecti ing the most suitable from among them. The executive therefore requests that the advertisement be cancelled, and the appointment delayed, until another one can be issued. The executive ,is the more urgent in recommending thie delay from the feeling that consideration should be given to the advisability of giving opportunity for receipt of applications from outside New Zealand. This is not to be read as expressing the opinion that an outsider should be chosen, still less as casting any reflection on any officer or officers now in the education service; it is solely for the purpose of emphasising the thought that Ino hindrance should be put in the way of securing the best possible applicant. In the view of the executive, to pay regard to mere seniority within the service when such an important office is to be filled would be a mistake. Though there is much to be said in favour of promoting our own men in our own service, there is also great need for the gaining of new strength by the introduction of new ideas. The executive feels assured that nothing will be lost by giving longer time and allowing a wider'field for the selection of the most suitable applicant."