Education Board Candidates Speak

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 7

Education Board Candidates Speak

A general desire to improve the lot of staff and pupils of primary schools was expressed when candidates for the three Canterbury Education Board seats being contested at the election on July 15, spoke to a meeting of the Canterbury School Committee’s Association oh Wednesday evening.

The candidates are Messrs T. J. Peterson (Ward 2), W. J Cartwright (sitting member, Ward 2), G. D. Stanley (Ward 5), and J. Butler Ward 1), and Mesdames R. J. Cowles (sitting member, Ward 1), and J. E. Putze (Ward 2). The sitting member of Ward 5 (Mr S. W. Gower) is overseas. Each of the candidates presented a brief policy statement, after which the six were questioned in panel ;form by the meeting. Much of the panel discussion centred on the conditions and pay of school caretakers, which was described as a “hot controversy.” Sevieral of the candidates ex-

pressed dissatisfaction with the present situation of caretakers, and considered that their pay was inadequate. After hearing that most caretakers were working with insufficient equipment—-or having to supply their own—most candidates considered that the whole question should be the subject of action by the board. The remainder of the discussion was devoted mostly to a general affirmation by the candidates in reply to questions from the floor of their readiness to press the board into demanding, or, if necessary, taking action on matters of Education Department policy they considered unsatisfatory.