SEDDON TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 4 October 1927, Page 9

SEDDON TECHNICAL COLLEGE

APPOINTMENT CRITICISED. QUALIFICATIONS DISPUTED. (By Telegraph. — Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Monday. Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Eden) raised a former subject of controversy by demanding more adequate information t/han has been previously given by the Minister of Education regarding the appointment of the head of the engineering department of tie Seddon Memorial Technical College, Auckland. The advertisement for applicants contained the requirement that the candidates must have a knowledge of the calculus. He alleged that the teacher appointed, though doubtless an excellent practical man, had no knowledge of mathematics. It was said in reply that this attainment was to be found in another member of the staff, but lie asserted that he knew the teachers and considered that none of thean had that mathematical knowledge so essential in an engineering school. He would like the Minister of Education to explain why Auckland should, have to submit to a college staffed under conditions no othef city would tolerate. An inquirywas held into an appeal by one member of the staff, but in Mr. Mason's opinion it was not a full .investigation, because the witnesses were fold they might have, to pay a part of th«» costs if they took part in the inquiry. Some who were requested to attend declined, Under legal advice, to give evidence. It was-quite clear that . when an investigation was conducted with such restriction s. although the magistrate's verdict might be fair on the evidence, he could not •pretend to arrive at the truth. He suggested that the Minister of Education should not hide behind the magistrates decision. He should attend to the unsatisfactory "pin-pricking" attitude of the head of the college towards Ms subordinates. No Ministerial reply was forthcoming.