N.Z.E.I. CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 117, 19 May 1937, Page 12

N.Z.E.I. CONFERENCE

MEMBERSHIP ISSUE

QUESTION OF COMPULSION

After considerable discussion this morning, the annual conference of the New Zealand' 3 Educational Institute found against the principle of compulsory membership of Jhe institute. There was a- sharp difference of opinion on a proposal that' membership of the institute should be made compulsory- The question was introduced in ten remits from various branches throughout the Dominion, and. discussion was opened by the moving of a remit by Mr. A. R. Chambers (Ashley) that membership of the institute should be compulsory for all teachers in the primary service. Mr. R. Arbuckle (Auckland) moved as an amendment that membership of the institute should be an essential qualification for teachers in public and Native, schools. It was stated by speakers who favoured the proposal that 13 per cent, of the primary school teachers were not members of the institute, and that a considerable proportion of the members were apathetic about the institute's affairs and' activities. It was felt that if the institute could claim 100 per cent, membership its x prestige would be greatly enhanced and its power much more effective. One speaker anticipated that the institute would have difficulty in maintaining membership without compulsion, and another pointed out that membership of the institute was a form of insurance against dismissal from a position. Speakers opposed to compulsory membership pointed out that as a voluntary organisation the institute could make its own rules to suit iftelf, and run its own business; but under compulsory membership they would be to some extent subjected to outside authority. One speaker contended that compulsory membership, such as was essential in all Court awards, for instance, would tend to encourage disloyalty, and in support of this he instanced evidences of it in a recently-formed union. It was urged that the whole question should be regarded from the positive viewpoint of the 87 per cent, and not from the negative viewpoint of. the 13 per cent. Other speakers said that a certain amount of opposition to any organisation was helpful to that organisation, and that it v/as the task of the institute to make membership of it sufCln n reply to a question, the secretary, Mr G. R. Ashbridge, said that there was no guarantee that if the proposal were carried the necessary legislation would be passed. After further discussion the amendment was lost on the voices. Several speakers supported the following amendment, moved by Mr. S. W. Gower (Mid-Canterbury), on the grounds that it left the matter open for conscientious objectors: "That where teachers are appointed to their first permanent positions, they automatically become members of the N.Z.E.I. unless they declare otherwise." The amendment was carried by 45 votes to 38. ! .

On being tabled as the motion, several other amendments were moved, but were lost, and on being put as the motion eventually it was lost by 48 votes to 37. ■:.'.. The following remit from Central Hawke's Bay was lost:—"That if membership be not compulsory'then preference in appointment be given to institute members, all things being equal."