TO RETIRE SHORTLY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 January 1926, Page 5

TO RETIRE SHORTLY.

SENIOR INiSIPECTrOiR OF SCHOOLS. TARANAKI BOATED PROTESTS. Despite an eloquent plea front the Taranaki Education Board .against the compulsory retirement of the senior inspector, Mr. J. A. Valentine, whose services it can ill spare, the Education Department has been unab-le to postpone his retirement in view of a recent Cabinet decision. Unless a petition -that the .board has sent to the Prime Minister succeeds, Mr. Valentine will be released from duty on March 31 next, and will commence sx months’ leave- of absence, virtually retiring on September 30. The chairman, Mr S. G. Smith, stated that when -the board had received intimation of Mr. Valentine’s retirement, a letter had been forwarded to the department urging lor an extension of his services for at least a- year. The board felt that at the present juncture' it could not agree to his retirement. Many of the schemes Air. Valentine had introduced into the schools had scarcely materialised and were not developed to their fullest extent. Mr. Valentine was one of the best- senior inspectors who had held office under the Taranaki Board, and it came as a shock that a man such as Mr Valentine, with his whole life wrapped in his work, should he compelled to sever his connections. The Educational Institute members had written expressing) Ifcheir regret, b.ut urging that Mr. Valentine’s services should be retained.

All of the 'board members expressed their regret and agreed with the chairman, but they confessed that it was apparent that nothing could be done l to avert what they considered was really a catastrophe. Mr. A. Lees suggested that a protest should be forwarded -to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Education. He- considered it little short of -scandalous that Mr. Valentine should be retired when he wa-s on the point ol bringing to a head much of his work. He undend.ood that Mr. Valentine would he only too eager to continue his duties. On the motion of Mr. Lees a resolution was carried that a protest bo forwarded to the Prime Minister and Minister for Education as suggested.