UNDER TWO FLAGS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1141, 31 May 1911, Page 5

UNDER TWO FLAGS.

SCHOOL TEACHER AND COUNTY CLERK. At the last meeting of the Wellington Education Board, permission was granted the head-teacher at Te Nui to undertake the duties of. county clerk in his district, on the understanding that the extra duty would not interfere with his school duties. One of the arguments advanced in support of the proposition was that the County Council had been unable to procure the- services of a suitable person at the remuneration offered, whicli was small as the duties were light. The board's action has since been criticised in certain quarters, and the teacher in question, referring to this in a letter to the board at its meeting yesterday, emphasised the fact that his school duties would not be interfered with. The letter was received at a late stage. Jlr. A. 11. Vile, in terms of notice of motion, moved as follows: — That it is-undesirable that teachers in the service of the board should accept outside public positions, which might tend to impair the efficiency of the school with which they are connected. It was pointed out by various speakers that Mr. Vile's motion amounted to a reversal of the board's policy with regard to the Te-Xui matter, and, in effect, stultified the board. Mr. W. C. Buchanan. MYP.,\ explained that a member of the County Council i\ question had approached him and pointed out that the teacher's duties as county clerk were, under the. arrangement entered into, performed on Saturdays, and the meetings of the council were also-held on Saturdays. Under these circumstances, , there could bo no objection to the course which had been followed ?.t the last meeting of the board. Mr. Vile's motion, was ruled' out of order.