A COUNTRY TEACHER’S LOT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 2053, 9 December 1924, Page 5

A COUNTRY TEACHER’S LOT.

THREATENED BY PARENTS. CASE BEFORE COURT. Some light on the difficulties under which teachers of isolated backcountry schools work and live was shed by two cases heard at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr. F. W. Platts, S.M. In the first case information was laid against Annie Wallace (Mr Noble), that on September 10, 1924, in a public place, to wit, the .Aratoro Road, she did use threateningbehaviour towards Ross B. Ebert, whereby a breach of the peace might be occasioned. Defendant pleaded nol guilty.

Sergeant Fearnley said he had been instructed to appear on behalf of defendant, although it was a private information. Complainant was a school teacher at Aratoro, a very isolated spot some five miles from Kopaki. Plaintiff had had occasion to punish defendant’s boy, and she and her husband had met him on the road and subjected him to abuse. “I may say,” continued the Sergeant, “that these people, instead of helping the teacher in this isolated place, do all they can to harass him, until now he has been compelled to come to court for his own protection.” Complainant in evidence said he had been driying with a Mr and Mrs Curry, .when they were stopped by the Wallaces, who were in another car. Wallace said witness had been punishing his boy and was not to touch him again. Mrs Wallace said, “This is the last warn-

ing you’ll get, you .” Wallace said, “I’ll take it out of your hide next time.” Witness continued that he had been unable to find suitable accommodation, and was “baching” about two miles from the school. He had always treated the parents courteously and had tried to be friendly with them. He only resorted to corporal punishment as a last, resort. He told the Wallaces he had only punished the child in his own interests. He had given the boy one cut, which was probably ‘insufficient.

To Mr Noble: Witness denied seizing the boy by the neck. He had hit him on the arm but not so as to make a mark. He had nol told the boy he was the ugliest boy in the school. Asked if defendant threatened him, witness said she shook her fist in his face and said it would be the last warping.

Mr Noble: Do you consider that would occasion a breach of the peace? His Worship: That is for the Court to decide.

Joseph James Curry, mill manager, and farmer, Aratoro, said he remembered the altercation on the road when he was driving from Aratoro to Kopaki with Mrs Curry and plaintiff. Mr Ebert was in the back seat. When they met the Wallaces someone called out and witness stopped the car. He corroborated complainant’s account of the conversation of the Wallaces. Mrs Curry gave similar evidence. Annie Wallace, the defendant, said the first cause of complaint was when the master had pinched the boy’s neck and shoulders. Then Ebert started complaining that every time the boy went to school he was untidy. Another time he said he was the ugliest boy in the school Before the incident complained of she found a black bruise on the hoy’s arm. She admitted calling complainant the name referred to, but he had said the boy told lies or was a liar. To His Worship: The boy was eight year of age and the only child. Sergeant Fearnley referred to witness’ written statement in which she said Ebert said nothing. She said nothing about Ebert saying the child was a liar. Witness declared she was telling the truth. The Sergeant: I suppose you think you’re boy a little angel. Witness: I suppose you would, too. I don’t suppose you’ve got any children. (Laughter,) His Worship: You mustn’t he impertinent, you know. You just answer questions and don’t talk so much. The husband of defendant also gave evidence. Mr Noble commented that Mrs Wallace had now left the district and asked that Section 92 of the Justice of the Peace Act be applied.

Tho Sergeant, addressing the Bench, said these teachers are alone in these hack country districts. This man has been practically driven out by the parents. If their hoys are chastised they think they should not he even spoken to and Hint, they are little angels. Tho teacher in this case has now asked the Department and the police for protection. There are a lot of bush hands up there a.tj Aratoro and they got drunk, and he does not know what may happen. His Worship commented that the actidu of defendant had been inexcusable. She had accosted the teacher on the road and publicly insulted and threatened him. He carried out liis duties Hinder severe disabilities, and liis Worship knew the Department had great difficulty in mainitaing these country schools. The police could not always interfere, but the Court, would protect the teacher. Defendant would bo fined £2 and costs.

(A report of the second' case in which an application was made that Albert John Scott be bound over to keep Itlhe peace towards Ross B. Ebert, will .appear in Thursday’s Chronile.)