Affiliation “Detrimental”

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 108, 10 May 1939, Page 6

Affiliation “Detrimental”

Educationists Scout “Wrong Impression” LABOUR FEDERATION ISSUE Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. By an overwhelming majority on the voices the annual conference of the New' Zealand Educational Institute in ellington passed a motion moved by Mr. A. Hanna, Otago, “That this annual meeting does not favour affiliation with the Federation of Labour." At the 1938 conference a report on possitTle affiliation with the federation was tabled, discussion being held over for a year. Copies of the report were circulated to the 48 branches of the institute for their comment and 22 replied, all being against affiliation. Moving the motion standing in his name, Mr. Hanna said the previous year representatives had been led to believe they would have an opportunity of discussing the report, but Mr. Riske had given good reasons why discussion should be held over. Unfortunately the press had put a wrong interpretation on the institute’s action, the impression being created that the question had been seriously considered, so seriously that the institute was taking a year to come to a decision. “I should not like to be thought I am taking up an attitude of snobbery in this question," Mr. Hanna continued. “For many years I have lived among the labouring classes and for ten yesrs my teaching has been in schools where children of labouring people predominate, so that my sympathies are definitely with that type. As a member of the institute, however, I know of nothing that will reflect more detrimentally on it than linking up with the Federation of Labour." Miss J. G. Park, Wellington, rose to a. point of order. The motion if carried would be ultra vires, she said, because the constitution stipulated that the Institute could affiliate only with other educational bodies. Mr. D. C. Pryor, chairman of committees: If the motion is passed it will show that the meeting does not wish to accept a constitutional remit that would make it possible to affiliate with the federation. The president, Mr. T. Kane, ruled the motion was in order. Mr. Hanna: The point I want to make is that we as a body would be acting contrary to our best wishes if we took any political side whatever. As an organisation we are interested in all sections of the community and we should be absolutely neutral. It is up to us to show that the interpretation circulated last year was entirely wrong." “We should not be acting in the best interests of our profession," said Miss F. J. Taylor, “if we let it be thought we were seriously considering this. Not one of the 22 branches was agreeable to affiliate. '*