WHY?

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 October 1924, Page 7

WHY?

—: * SECTARIAN ISSUE. GIRL LEAVES HOME. AUCKLAND INCIDENT. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, Oct. 15. In answer to a query why the enquiry by the Grammar School Board into the case of Miss Martin had been first conducted in camera, and then abandoned, the chairman of the Auckland Education Board (Mr A. Burns) to-day stated that* Miss Terry had resigned, stating that she had answered the questions already put by the board and her health would not allow her facing a further ordeal. Several children were to have given evidence before the board, but when the time approached they showed reluctance to come forward" and, as Miss Terry had resigned, the board did not consider it necessary to continue the enquiry. Mr Patterson considered tuis to be a very weak explanation on behalf of the Grammar School Board. “I contend,” said Mr Patterson, “that the board should have held this enquiry ajid satisfied the public. They had letters from parents, and their children could have given evidence.” The chairman said he did not think it was all direct evidence. Mr Patterson: “They must have had sufficient evidence, otherwise they would not have instituted an enquiry. I do not think the public are at all satisfied.” Mr Burns: ‘‘l have given you what took place.” Mr King did not like the idea of the board criticising the action of another board. If it considered the Grammar School Board had not taken quite the proper course in the interests of the public it should instruct its representative on the board to express this hoard’s opinion at the meeting of the other body. Mr Boddie: “We have a right,to ask for a report from the other board, hut having received that report I think it is as far as we can, go. The other hoard, I think, is well qualified to deal with its own business. Whether we agree with it or not, we have no right to express any hostile opinion.” ... The chairman: “I think the board, is right to ask its representative on the board for an account of its enquiry, but there were many things which cropped up at the enquiry which cannot he explained at a public meeting like this. If you had been at the meeting you might have taken exactly the same view as did the members of the Grammar School Board.”