BREEZE AT MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 144, 21 June 1933, Page 10

BREEZE AT MEETING

CONFIDENTIAL REPORT IN COMMITTEE OR NOT? The calm and businesslike atmosphere that usually pervades the meetings of the "Wellington Education Board was rudely disturbed this morning. A breeze rapidly developed into, a'potential storm, and there was. an interchange of such epithets as "Liar!" until the chairman (Mr. T. Forsyth) succeeded in pouring oil upon troubled waters. , ■ The source of tho eruption was a return regarding private schools and the grading •of privates school teachers which.' Colonel T. W. McDonald had asked for at the last meeting of the board. When this was presented to today's meeting the chairman moved that consideration of it bo taken in committee. This at .once brought Colonel McDonald; to his feet and he vehemently protested. There was nothing confidential in the report, ho said, and he accused the chairman of attempting to stifle something which ought to see the light of day. Mr. Forsyth said that he objected to a private member. o£ the board ventilating a private grievance. The report concerned private schools, whereas the board was concerned with primary schools. He did not think.the board should be dragged into what did not really concern it. He was in the dark as to what was behind it all. The senior inspector, replying to an allegation by Colonel McDonald that he had been instructed by the Department to see that' the return was not made public, denied emphatically that such was the case. He pointed out that inspectors' reports had always been regarded as confidential. Grading marks, however,: were not confidential. The chairman'refused to■ accept an amendment moved by Colonel McDonald that- the report lie on the table, holding that this.was tantamount to a direct negative of the motion that the report be considered in committee. Mr. C. H. Nichblls: That is the most unfair thing that you have ever ruled. Mussolini, is not. in it on. this. . Mr. W. 11. Jackson said he strongly objected to Colonel McDonald's battery tactics. Mr. Forsytli reiterated that the board should not be used as a ground for ventilating private- grievances. It was the. first time he had seen such, an exhibition of feeling on the part'of certain members of the board. A member: Because hitherto you have been the board, but you are .not going to be any longer. " '• ■' ' ■ Amid come loudlyw.oiced interjections and protests, the chairman put the motion that the board go into committee. This was carried by nine votes to four, and calm reigned again.