ISLAND BOYS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 10 May 1944, Page 5

ISLAND BOYS

ADMISSION TO WAITAKI (P.A.) DUNEDIN, May 10. The following motion was passed at a special meeting at Oamaru of the Waitaki High Schools Board:— “This hoard regrets the unwarranted publicity given to remarks made by members at the last meeting, when no resolution regarding the admission of Fijian and Samoan boys to Waitaki was passed. The board desired to obtain the advice of the rector, Mr, F. Milner, and lias now discussed the matter fullv in his presence. It has resolved' to admit a number of such boys under the proposed scheme of the island territories administration. Final arrangements, contingent on accommodation, must of necessity be left in the hands of the rector and His successor.” With reference to the above statement. the Oamaru Mail publishes the following editorial reply; “At a special meeting on Monday afternoon the Waitaki High Schools Board passed a resolution ‘regretting that unwarranted publicity was given to remarks made by members of the board at .the last meeting when no r Y'?? lution regarding the admission of Fijian and Samoan boys to the school was passed.’ “No publicity given to statements made in open meeting is unwarranted so long as it is correct and there' lias been no suggestion whatever that our report of the discussion was inaccurate. It is the duty of a reporter to supply reports and a newspaper has a responsibility to the public to inform it concerning the deliberations of public bodies. “At the. first nieeting at which the admission of island boys was discussed the only comments on * the proposal were most unfavourable, two prominent members of the board condemning it on the authority of an Oamaru medicgl man. Since the report of the meeting, was published a third member of the board has written to us stating that he voted for a motion opposing tile introduction of island students. There is some difference of opinion as to whether such a motion was formally put to the meeting, but in view of the fact that three of the six members present, including - the chairman, opposed the proposal and not one spoke in its favour, the feeling of the meeting can be deduced.”