DIRTY LINEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14979, 27 April 1909, Page 7

DIRTY LINEN.

A PUBLIC WASHING. At the annual meeting* of householders of tho Richmond School district, held last evening, Mr G. W. Russell, M.P., said that lie had a serious complaint* to make in regard to a certain laundry class which was held at tli<o Normal School for the instruction of school children. It had come to his knowledge that tho children of this particular class, scholars attending the Richmond School, wero instructed by their teacher to bring certain articles of their own clothing to bo laundried for the purposes of instruction. One week, however, the children wero informed that they need not bring their own linen. When t-lio pupils reached the class-room they found that the teacher had brought out a quantity of her own porsonal clothing, which she set the girls to wash. His own daughter was amongst the number. It was during his absoce in Australia, but Mrs Russell had withdrawn her daughter from tho class, and would not allow her to attend any- more. Ho had never heard of « greater piece of impudence on the part of any woman in all his life. It w!)s a scandalous thing that the children of any school should have been asked to wash a teacher’s clothing. He had beon informed that tho lady instructor waa an importation fron\ England. He quito believed it. Perhaps her views of colonial life wero somowhat different from other poo-plo’s. If she imagined that eho could turn schoolgirls into laundry women for her own benefit it was time she was packed off Home again. Ho understood that the girls w 7 ere scholars of tho Richmond School, and that some of them had protested against the .indignity. Ho was proud to think that they had the spirit to do so, and he intended to have tho matter thoroughly inquired into. He movod—" That this meeting, having been made aware that tho teacher of a laundry instruction class had used the girls’ services for the purpose of doing her own washing, instructs the chairman to communicate with tho Education Board regarding tho matter.” Mr J . N. Adams seconded, the motion. Ho said that the charge was a most serious one, and should he immediately inquired into. Mr Sincock rose and made remarks that caused a great deal of laughter. Ho said that it was a question whether the teacher’s linen was dirtier than that of the scholars. (Loud laughter.) The chairman, Mr J. A. Flesher, said that ho was not going to have the meeting turned into a burlesque. If Mr Sincock wanted to say anything, ho must confine himself to the motion boi'ore the meeting. Mr Sincock resumed his remarks, and sent the mooting into shrieks of laughter. Tho chairman thereupon ordered Mr Sincock to sit down. Mr Sincock sat down, saying: "I shall get up again, mind you.” The headmaster of tho school. Mr J. M’Gregor, said that ho knew only w'hat liad been told him. by the scholars. Mr J. Howell, the principal of tho Technical School, was responsible for the work in the laundry, class. Ho had heard statements regarding the scholars washing tho teacher’s clothes. Mr Parker said that he wanted to know how the children could learn the work if they had no clothing to wash. Ho thought that Mr Russell, before moving the motion, should have communicated with tho Normal Scffool on tho matter. The motion was premature, and ho would opposo it. In reply, Mr Russell said that ho had no connection with tho Normal School. It was becauso his daughter and the other girls were pupils of tho Richmond School that ho had come to protest. In reply to a question as to whether Mr Russell had found put whether it was tho teacher's personal clothing that had been washed, tho chairman said that it had beon put to him as chairman of tho meeting that such was the case, and ho would put tho motion to tho meeting. The motion was declared carried unanimously.