ROYD GARLICK ENQUIRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9588, 4 September 1913, Page 5

ROYD GARLICK ENQUIRY.

(Put Puss Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. Th© Royd Garlick Committee resumed this afternoon.

George Hogbcn, Inspector-General of Scliools, explained that the tystetn of physical training in public schools was unsatisfactory until Hon. James Allen cairn into office. lie took the matter up. and wrote a memorandum to witness, asking him to arrange a committee of advice to discuss the scheme. The committee recommended that a diwtor be appointed. Wit■o6B recommended Mr Garlick becatu* time was pressing and he was satisfied that lie was the man best qualified in the Dominion for the position. It. would have taken six months to advertise in England and Australia, and it was necessary to got 9omc scheme of physical training into operation to supersede the junior cadet | system, which had drifted into chaos. After I fully considering all likely applicants they carnti to the conclusion that Mr Garlick waV best fitted for tlie position. Tin* first, recommendation of the salary wa9 £420. rising to £450. but Mr Garlick communicated to iiim that it was not rufficient. Finally he agreed to accept £6OO. The system of physical training adopted was not Swedish. The Aldcrshot svstem wa« too severe for school children, lie was quite satisfied with Mr Garlick's ability when he recommended him He was more than 6ati«ficd now. Ilis recommendation was largely due to the excellent work Mr Garlick diu on the advisory committee. He did not consider it necessary to have a medical man as director. He had never made a recommendation to the Public Service ('ommiseioncr tliat he did not honestly belief it was in the interests of the service.

To Mr Wilford: The appointment wa? not a panic one. The 6alary was fixed at £6OO because it was a question of supply and demand. He thought now it would have been wiser to advertise, i»ut ho would not admit a mistake had been mado. He still thought the best man nvailablt had been appointed. Royd Gnrlick was called and garc particulars of hig studies in physical training. He claimed that he had a longer and bettei knowledge of Swedish drill than any witness produced by Mr Wilford, while fiis work had ahown that he knew hov. to apply his knowledge to practical purposes. He answered the previous witness**, and described the organisation of the Department, the difficulties met with owing to the apathy of Education Boards, and jlk hostility of teachers.

In reply to Mr Herdman. he repudiated the suggestion that Dr. Mo*n had propared the breathing exercises in the manual, which lie described was compiled out of hi> knowledge of his work. He had already trained over' 800 teachers in tluj elementary principles of the syateni. His future plans woujd ho hampered by the difficultv in getting Board* to summon teachere for inst ruction.

Replying to Mr Allen, he denied tliat he had boon approached by the Minister or official* as to his political opinions. He rebutted the statement made by Johnston that one exercise in tJie manual wa* unsafe. Tho Committee adjourned till 3 o'clock to-morrow.