ROYD GARLICK INQUIRY.

Mataura Ensign, 26 September 1913, Page 3

ROYD GARLICK INQUIRY.

REPORT OF THE COMMITtEE. QUESTION OF THE- AITGTNT.MbXT.__ MSB UNITED rEESS ASSOCIATION. j WELLINGTON, Sept. 23. j When the House r f Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. toicrr-aiHteo. appointed to inquire nuo the* arnx>int- j ment of Mr Royd Garlick as Director' of.Physical Training reported:—(l) Th it tnere> was no evidence to shn.v i:: pro-, per motives on the part of llio Jsiinister; (2) that in making the appointment the Minister believed he was acting in the public interest; (3) that Hon- j Jas. Allen, acting on advice, believed j that Garlick was qualified to fill the position when he made the appointment; (4) that Mr G. W. Forbes made no direct charge against the Minister, and brought forward no evidence in support of the suggestion that the appointment was due to political influence; (o) that j the allegation made by Mr G. Laurenson that the Minister had appointed a personal friend fleas without justification and incorrect: (6) that the salary was rot excessive lor a thoroughly competent man; hut it would have been advisable to invite applications for the position both within and without the Dominion. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) said that the report was a complete vindication of his charges. The commitee was emphatic that applications should have been advertised, and he did not take back one word he had said, because he was satisfied that the evidence before the oomznittee had proved every word he uttered 1 up to the 'hilt. Bon. Jas. Allen (Minister for "Education) drew attention to the fact that the report was unanimous. He was prepared to take the responsibility of making the appointment without advertising. It was not an unusual proceeding, and he felt confident they had sot the best man available. The attack made by Mr Wilford had been designed to destroy the system of physical training, which was doing so muoh, to improve the physique of children. Mr T. K. Sidey (Ihinedin South) drew attention to the discrepancy between the evidence of the Minister and the letter from Dr Hardwicke Smith as to the negotiations regarding the appoint- " ment prior to the conference of experts,. It was most improper that Mra Garlick should oarry on a school for physical training w'hile her husband was director. Mr L. M. Isitt (Obristohiiroh. North) •aid that if Mrs Garlick were attacked' she was to blame for that herself. The ossitiom was a most improper one, that should continue & school for trainihstrnefcors who wornld subsequently look to her fhmsband for appointment to the Government service. All through the affair the Minister had shown gross carelessness and want of consideration. Mr J. 0. Thomson (Wallace) entered kis protest against the payment of so large agalary to, the Director of Physical Training, wihile cither important of- . floors were getting less. Mr Geo. Laurenson (Lyttelton) said tfcat he accepted the Minister'a denial that he appointed a personal friend; but fee aftoll criticised and condemned the appointment. Ho*. Hi. McKenzie (Motueka) protest«d against the appointment of Mr Gar-

lick, on behalf of the taxpayers of the country. He considered that the appointment was the most scandalous and unjustifiable ever made in this country, and the pay was quite out of proportion to tho icrs rci:;br:>;l. 7=l r 0. -i'. TK-r.- -j (' V/ - .":'"-:

latioii to Sweden as sVede turnips. Tb? drill had been devised by the Army and Navy authorities in England, Mr Wilford seemed to be obsessed br t!:»

that all that was required of ilw instructor was a knowledge of Swedish' d:i!l.

': :o debate on the report was continued in. the evening by Mr (!. M. Thomson and Mr E. Newman (Rangitikei). Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) moved as an amendment, ''That in the. opinion of tho House the appointment of Mr Royd Garlick as Director of Physical Education in primary Reboots should not ha-ve been made, the position' not having been advertised. Garlick was not qualified for the position, and the salary was too large; that it was unfair to many schoolteachers and others holding high positions in the public service; that it was unfair that Garlick's business in Wellington should be continued with the Minister's consent in defiance of the regulations applying to all Government servants." Re contended that the committee's report stated that the Minister must be acquitted of using political motives over the appointment, and lie was told not to appear before the court. Again, he asked what the Minister Lad placed before him to indicate that Garlick possessed such superlative, such pre-eminent ability, as to warrant him in appointing him over the heads of everyone in New Zealand and Australia to establish a system of physioal culture in. our schools. Yet, he added, Garlick could not produce one certificate as to his efficiency or qualification. The thanks of the country were due to Mr Wilford for ventilating the matter, and be ventured to say that never again would the Minister dare to make any appointment without advertising it. Hon. A. L. Herdman said that it had been pointed out that Garlick had nothing to do with the business now carried on, ;by Mrs Garlick. The cry that political influence had been manifested in the appointment had been entirely disjointed, also the suggestion that the Minister had been! animated by corrupt motives. Tho unanimous'finding of the committee showed that Mr Wilford had not discharged the ontus which rested upon Mm. Mr Wilford undertook to show that Garlick was not qualified for the position, but the finding showed that he had failed, and that the man was fit. He contended that all tha evidence brought by Mr Wilford before the committee was irrelevant. None of the witnesses knew Garlick or his work. In his opinion Garlick had been punished with relentless fury. Hon. J. A. Millar (chairman of tho committee) said that he wanted to state publicly that he was not in favor of the appointment of Garlick. He exonerated the Minister of improper motives. He had been led into what he had done by his advisers, and the one most to blame was the Inspector-General of Schools. It was on taking that advice that the Minister got into trouble. Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) said that the effect of the finding wad

that Hon. J. Allen had been exonerated from the more serious charges preferred against him earlier in the session. He hoped that members who had made tho charges would stan-cl up and apologise for wh;;t ih"v hsvj Ho *~id tb°: <!' > r /r , |; s v! • ';> 'y I-Mit ■ iiiei't. Ai'ter doing chat sorb of tiling lor 21 y('■■■>i:j .'CicrjiK-r;; opposite Izot ne, and ce'Ti |;l:'l:H'd of an appointment v>lnch he \\-.v, sure; v.ou!d turn out well ier tho i-amtry. It was, however, tho best ■advi.TtiKopmnt that the Public Servi."« Conmr'-s-iiow-rs could have. They couH a.'-'iured th;:t no appointments would bo made outside tlio Commissioners. The House divided on Mr Russell's amendment, which was lost by 37 votes to 31 and the report wa-s adopted.