EDUCATION BOARD PROTEST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 26 June 1945, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARD PROTEST

TEACHERS IN HOME FORCES

Auckland, June 25.

A protest against delay in discharging former teachers from the home defence forces was made by the chairman of the Auckland Education Board, Mr G. K. Hamilton, who spoke in support of a complaint by the chairman of the Otago board. Mr J. Wallace.

“Many of our best teachers are attached to the instructional ‘staff of the Royal New Zealand Air Force,” said Mr Hamilton. “Seme of them, who are completely trustworthy, say that many teachers who are no 4 fit for overseas service are being retained in New Zealand with little or no work to do. These valuable meit are apparently wasting their time and their prolonged absence from their profession is playing havoc with the efficiency of the schools.” < The board had co-operated with the Air Force in releasing some of its best men ns educational officers for the service and it was felt that some of these could now be returned to their civiVn wrrk. he added. The board v >ad repeatedly askdd the Education Department to take urgent action to have teachers released in fairness to the Dominion's schools. 'The. slat ament, of the Minister of Defence. Mr Jones, on-the o nation of reducing the size nf An* Force ; s not convincing;” Mr Hamilton concluded. “ard. it gives the impression lhaf the Minister had a senior member of the force whose paramount desire was to keep up the strength of the organisations looking over his shoulder as he wrote it.”