TEACHERS’ ATTITUDE

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1938, Page 7

TEACHERS’ ATTITUDE

TO LABOUR FEDERATION. PRESS MISREPRESENTATION. [Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON, May 18. The following official statement has been issued by the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute regarding the Federation of Labour and a recent discussion: — The New Zealand Educational Institute acknowledges the fair and sometimes generous publicity given by the press to the proceedings of its fifty-fifth annual meeting. Statements made by one Wellington daily paper in a leading article on May 13, are, however, so misleading in fact and implication that the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute was called upon by the annual meeting to refute them. “By a majority of nine votes onlyi 46-37,”. says th'e leading article, “it was decided to defer decision on the question (affiliation with the Fedeiation of Labour), till the next annual meeting. These figures indicate the presence within the Institute of a substantial element which is bent upon converting it into a political machine.” The first sentence is fact and the second mere conjecture—conjecture based on false premises. A purely factual report, stating the pros and cons entirely without advocacy, was placed before the meeting at the request of the 1937 annual meeting No motion for or against affiliation was put to the meeting and the only aspect debated was whether or not affiliation should be discussed in 12 months’ time. The vote of 46 to 37 indicates nothing but the fact that a majority wished to defer consideration of an important matter for another year. Any conjecture as to the meaning of the voting would have been referred to another resolution, carried unanimously, which reads: “The Institute may associate itself 1 with or affiliate to any other educational body whose purposes may be calculated lawfully to advance the interests of the teaching profession and are not purposes of gain,.” The report before the meeting gave six arguments for and six against affiliation. Yet, with a total disregard for the ethics of journalism, the paper concerned lifted the following quotation from its context. Prominent sections of world opinion look to the workers as the greatest potential force in social progress. ... Considerable enlightened opinion is frankly socialistic in our day.” It was followed by another quotation: “The non-political traditions of the Institute and the conservatism of many of its members cannot be lightly considered.” This was stated to be an argument used by the “saner element” that “realise the danger.” But no indication was given that both quotations are parts of the same report, The executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute welcomes this opportunity of refuting these misleading statements. As it happens, because no vote was taken, no one inside or outside the Institute is in a position to say whether or not the Institute is in favour of affiliation to the Federation of Labour. The statements made border on misrepresentation. But on this and any other issue the New Zealand Educational Institute with a history dating back over half a century affirms its right to reach its own decisions in its own way, without interference from outside organisations. The suggestion that members of the teaching profession, merely because “their salaries are paid by the taxpayers,” should be deprived of the political rights and liberties of citizens is resented, and will be hotly contested.