PILFERING AT SCHOOL

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28415, 23 October 1957, Page 12

PILFERING AT SCHOOL

Urgent Questions In Parliament

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 22.

Twenty thefts were reported in one fortnight at Selwyn College, said the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) in the House of Representatives this afternoon when answering an urgent question asked by Mr W. W. Freer (Opposition, Mount Albert) on the subjection of 400 college pupils to ultra-violet lamp inspection by the police in an attempt to end petty pilfering. The trouble could not fairly be described, as petty pilfering, and the thefts were many, serious, and annoying, added the Minister. The misconduct had occurred throughout the whole of this year, and the incidents had t caused great worry to staff and pupils alike.

Mr Algie said the headmaster, who had full legal authority to act in what he believed to be the best interests of the school’s discipline, had authorised the tests. He had an excellent record as a disciplinarian, and the general tone of the school was high. Whether similar action was permitted in the future was primarily a matter for the principals of schools, their boards of governors, and the police, added the Minister. It might well be that if a similar problem had to be dealt with in future, different methods would be followed.

In another urgent question, Mr Freer asked the Minister of Police (Mr D. J. Eyre) if the report that the investigation was “routine” indicated that similar examinations would be made in other schools.

Mr Eyre said the police had been called in to try to prevent a series of petty thefts which was affecting the morale of the school. If the tests had been successful, suspicion would have been cleared away. The tests could not have frightened anybody but the guilty, and the principal and staff had expressed their appreciation of the manner in which the police handled their task. The word “routine” merely referred to the equipment used in group, testing.