TEACHERS AND MILITARY SERVICE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16270, 22 July 1918, Page 7

TEACHERS AND MILITARY SERVICE.

QUESTION OF EXEMPTION. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, July 20. Tho question of the exemption of school teachers from military service was mentioned by a deputation of as-sistant-teachers which waited upon t.'ie Hon. J. A. Hanan last evening. The Minister stated that he had been asked to bring about certain reforms, but he would be rendered powerless if the shortage of efficient teachers continued. His close »ssociation witn teachers had satisfied him that there was not a single teacher who was a shirter. He recognised that the fir3t duty was to win the war, but he considered that there were some men in the country who could be better spared than the teachers of the national schools. He had no power to appeal for teachers, as he was not their employer, and under the Act only employers couid apneal. Some Boards were appealing, but others were not. He had recently discussed the question with the chairman of the Elliciency Board, who agreed with him that the time had arrived when they should call a halt in the interests <jf education. Accordingly he intended to ask Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward on tlicif return to New Zealand to give tho Director of Education the power of lodging appeals.