ABOLITION OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

Evening Star, Issue 16625, 7 January 1918, Page 2

ABOLITION OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

XO THE EDITOR. ... Sir,--With your .permission I wish, to correct an impression that might be made by a: statement (apparently quoted from the Wellington 'Post') which appeared in your issue of Saturday, and which .is alleged to have been made by me at the annual meeting of the N.Z.Er Institute. The statement has been.taken from its setting, and would certainly create the impression that I advocated the entire abolition' of education boards. As a matter- of fact, the question of the abolition of education boards was not before tie conference during my stay in Wellington. The matter under discussion at the time was the abolition of appointments by boards in small districts so as to reduco "the number of promotion areas in the Dominion to four. 1 opposed that, because now that we have a graded list, which appears to be giving satisfaction to tho majority of teachers in tho Dominion, I am of opinion that teachers should have the whole Dominion as their field for promotion, and that appointments should be made from the graded list in a maimer similar to that obtaining in the other branches of the Government service.' I stated that, until 12 months ago, I had advocated four promotion areas, but that during the past year matters in connection with appointments which had been under the consideration of the executive, but which I was not at liberty to mention, had caused me to change "my opinion. They had, however, convinced me that, as appointing bodies, the sooner education boards were abolished the better. (I cannot remember if I actually used the words in italics, but such was my intention.) That I had grounds for my opinion may be gathered trom the following, which appeared on the first page of your issue of Saturday last: — The executive reported that they had correspondence before' them showing that certain boards on several occasions disregarded the provisions of the Act in the matter of appointments, and they recommended that a strong protest sliould be made against the action of the boards in defying the provisions of the Act, and that tho Minister be strongly urged to have subsection -7, section 71,"0f the Act repealed. I -desire to seo boards established in large centres with greatly extended powers in many matters, but elected on a different basis, and without the power of appointing teachers. A perusal of the report which appeared in the ' New Zealand Times' (enclosed) will show that the discussion was-in connection with promotions, and promotions only.—l am, etc., 0. D. Flaiiank." January 7.