MINISTER AND CHAIRMAN

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1924, Page 5

MINISTER AND CHAIRMAN

ALLEGED EDUCATION !' '.. MENT DELAYS. ■' .. . ;;

(BI THLSORAPB.—PRESS ASSOCIAIIOK.V • AUCKLAND, 24th January. Replying to the statement of the chairman of the ? otago Education Board Qftr Wallace), tVat the'departmental fcusiness had been delayed during his absence in Australia, the Bpn- C. J. Parr stated : — ."My holiday of a few weeks was forced through overwork. The complaint is un | founded, as well as being querulous and unfair. ' Before leaving,-I made special arrangements.for the Hon. G.J. Anderson to act,-, and I am indebted to him for the amount of time ari^. attention he gave the Department, this being notified through the Press. The. Director (Mr. Caughley) also gave special attention to Education Board matters; Challenged by Mr. Caughley to give details, Mr. Wallace now says his. was only, a casual remark, arid there ■'• was . no complaint. Hej states he was really thinking of-the .DenUl School.":-1". / . I ! '. "Both gentlenjeh;"'; continued Mr. Parr, "were unfortunate in'their reference wtd. the Duhe^n;" ■ Deht^lXi School. Both, as members ' oftthe'' Otago ?jUniver,sity Council, knew, well there has been no delay in the Dental School matters because of nry'assurance. BotUrknew that as a results of- my" ihterview^hin October with the council the departmental committee was appointed to inquire into the necessities, requirements, and position of the Dunedin School, and the committee was engaged in that very 'task when Messrs. Sidey and. Wallace made their uafounded, complaint. The report of the committee only reached me last. week, and was immediately sent by me to the, Auckland and Otagp University Councils for consideration. The Department, the Hon. Gr. J. Anderson, and myself have good ground for complaint, at the unfair attitude taken by these gentlemen. Just prior to leaving for Australia I made a special visit to Dunedin, and met both the council and the Education' Board, and dealt with all questions they had to raise. Bdth Mr. ESidey a:fcl Mr. Wallace have always had uniform consideration from me. I regret they repay the Department and myself in this fashion." '•"-..'.'