TEACHER OBJECTORS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 303, 19 September 1941, Page 10

TEACHER OBJECTORS

Otago Education Board

Discussion

GOVERNMENT POLICY AWAITED

(Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, September 18. There was a lively discussion at today’s meeting of the Otago Education Board when a motion was- brought

forward by Mr. W. M. Cooper to the effect that no person refusing to take his. part in the defence of the Empire should be employed as a teacher in any public school and that boards should be given power to dismiss any teacher refusing ,to comply with the defence regulations and who, on grounds of conscientious objection, claimed exemption from service. Board members generally expressed themselves gs being opposed to conscientious objectors but an amendment was carried that the matter should be deferred till'the Government policy , for the Dominion was declared. ~. t The chairman, Mr. .James . Wallace, said'he had’some doubt about accepting the mOtjon but he thought Mr.. Cooper wa§ quite■-right iu/ptrttiiig it.'. “There is nothing' in the ’ r motion' which loyal-and-patriotic citizens of this country can fail to support." declared Mr. N.' Colquhouu, .seconding the motion.

Air. 'Wallace: I question that. “We all agree with the principle,” said Mr. Cameron, “but 1 think the motion is ill-advised.” The motion referred to the conscientious objector who claimed exemption and they would thus prejudge his case before it was heard, by the legal procedure of the country. A man had a perfect right to claim exemption. This was a free'country. He moved that consideration be deferred till the Government had declared its policy. Mr. Cooper asked Mr. Cameron whether, in the event of a tribunal upholding an appeal, he would agree that the teacher should continue to teach children of soldiers. “Will you answer that?” queried Mr. Cooper.

Mr. Cameron : No. I will not answer that question. The chairman said he had a certain amount of sympathy with a man who was a genuine conscientious objector but he had no sympathy with his being a teacher, with those objections. If a man would give service to the State in another way, then he should have the opportunity of doing so.

“I am with the mover and seconder of the motion right up to the hilt,” said Mr. Wallace, “but I am not with them in moving it here at this time.” The amendment was carried by five votes to four;