MR. FORSYTH AND THE N.Z.E.I.

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 267, 5 August 1920, Page 5

MR. FORSYTH AND THE N.Z.E.I.

Sir, —Thie executive of tho New Zealand Educational Institute canuot sUovr Mr. Forsyth's reply to the institute's protest on the subject of his remarks at the last meeting of tho Education Board, alleging neglect by'the'institute, of the claims of the lower-paid tcaehe.rs, to pass without comment. Mr. -Forsyth distinctly said that members of tho board would find that "tlicy (tbte institute) rarely take up the caso' of the lower-paid teacher," As that remark l-implied a very serious reflection upon, the institute, wo communicated witti him and asked him if he had been correctly reported, as'we proposed to challenge the statement. Ilis reply ■woa to the effect that tlm report was correct •and that we could nhead " Mr. Forsyth now states that lie was referring to relieving teachers, but his original statement conveyed, and has been so construed by the public, a much more comprehensive insinuation. Ilis latest statement constitutes an evasion' of the point 011 which wo are at itsuo with. him. Wc must therefore nsk him to modify his original statement. Until ho does so wc must decline to enter into a. detailed discussion of what the institute has, or has not, .lone, for the relieving tcachers, save to point out that, this branch of the profession has benefited, not so much as could lie wished, but certainly benefited, as the result of the institute's regular and insistent re-' presentations on behalf of tho lower-paid teachers. Thnt the lot of' the relieving teacher is not as it ought to be is no fault of the institute.—l am, ctc., jr. A. PARKINSON, &cretnry, N.Z.E.I. July 30, 1920. ,