SALUTING THE FLAG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11824, 29 November 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

SALUTING THE FLAG.

A HEADTEACHER'S OBJECTIONS. MOTION FOR HIS DISMISSAL CARRIED.

Sons months back tho Auckland Board of Education received a communication from the committee of the Kirikiri school district intimating that the headmaster of the school, Mr. -fas. ];. Murray, had failed to comply with the wishes of the committee i.v declining to instruct the children of the school in tho ceremony of saluting the -*a,', as provided for by the Board's, instructions to school committees and headmasters, and nad otherwise conducted himself in such a manner as to show disrespect towards the flag. Tho Loyal and Patriotic Committee sought tho Board's assistance in compelling Mr. Murray to observe the custom, and correspondence lias since been passing between the parties concerned, the Board ultimately informing Mr. Murray that he must either teach the children to salute the flag or hand in his resignation as a teacher in the Board's employ. Up to November 27 the correspondence had been dealt with in committee, and the particulars were therefore not available to the press, but the chairman (Mr. L. •1. Baguall) then remarked that as a climax had been reached the time had arrived when the matter should be made public, and some definite action taken by the Board in deal. ing with the offender. This was agreed to by the members present. The correspondence referred to opened with a letter (dated October IT) from the secretary of the. Board to Mr. Murray, in- i timating that the District School Committee, Kirikiri, had forwarded to the Board a copy of a letter sent to him (Mr. Murray) under date of May 2, together with his reply dated May 4, on the subject of the school children being taught to salute the flag at. the school under his charge. The letter went on to say: —"They (the committee) also allege that the unpatriotic conduct of the headteacher has caused a large amount of ill-feeling and discontent In support of that allegation they state: (1) On the occasion of the entry of the British into Pretoria, Mr. Quinn, the then chairman of committee, having failed to notify the headteaoher that tho children should be allowed a holiday to celebrate the < vent, Messrs. Hawkins and Choat, two of the members of committee, waited upon the headteacher and requested him to declare a holiday, which he refused to do. 2. Upon tho occasion of the unfurling of the flag at the local school, notwithstanding the fact that the headteacher had been previously requested by the committee to teach the scholars to march past and salute the flag, he failed to instruct the scholars, and made remarks regarding the _ Empire's Hag of a decidedly uncomplimentary character. The committee further allege these are only examples of Mr. Murray's conduct that "refer to matters affecting the question of patriotism. In fact, he misses no opportunity of belittling and throwing scorn on the British nation. I am directed to nek you for any explanation which you may have to offer upon the subject. (Signed)" Y. E. Rick, Secretary." Under date of October 23, Mr. Murray replied as follows:—" Sir,— have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th inst. relating to complaints on tho part of the committee with regard to my alleged unpatriotic conduct. The first paragraph of .your letter refers to the matter of the children not being taught to salute the flag. . . . The allegation ' tha» the unpatriotic conduct of the headteacher has caused a large amount of ill-feeling and discontent in the district' is unfounded, as my conduct has not been unpatriotic. It is not my conduct, but the circulation of absurd stories, which can bo traced very close to some of those who have taken a prominent part in the agitation against me, that has caused tho ill-feeling in the district. The extent of tho ill-feeling is now pretty accurately known to the Board. The statement that ' on the occasion of the entry of the British into Pretoria, etc.,' is fairly correct as far as it goes. Having got no authority to declare a. holiday I refused to commit an irregularity, but at the same time I requested Messrs. Choat and Hawkins to bring me a noto either from tho chairman or secretary of the committee to the effect of what, they wished to have done and I would then do it. I also made an alternative proposal to them, and that I was that they should arrange to make the next school day a holiday. After some hesitation they declined to do either, and went away. On the clay on which these gentlemen called there were 65 children present— there were only two other such high attendances in the preceding year and three quarters. The statement bearing upon the occasion of the unfurling of the flag at the local school.' is from beginning to end a misstatement. I had two conversations with Mr. Quinn. the chairman of the committee, at that time, relating to tho tin- ! furling of the flag. In the first he said that the committee wanted the children to salute the flag. From the time I first heard of flagsaluting I had taken occasion to ask overy man that I got into conversation with and who had served in the British regular army, if he had ever been asked to salute the flag while a soldier otherwise than by saluting the officers carrying the flags when ' trooping colours.' I always got the same answer, that they had not. For my own part I have no liking for emblems or- colours, and for tho last 20 years have never worn such tilings. Where principles guide there is no need for these things. Besides, as the vast majority of the British people consider the saluting of religious emblems as idolatrous, they should be consistent and not ask anyone to salute emblems of any kind: and they are consistent in the matter, for it is not from England that flag-saluting came in vogue. In a word, I cannot salue any flag—that is, personally salute it, as I. would a human being; it is against my conscience. International courtesies such as dipping flags, firing guns, etc., are harmless ceremonies for naval officers and such people. With these things in my mind I did not arrange with Mr. Quinn to salute the flag against my conscientious convictions. The second time that he spoke to me about the matter there was an entirely different arrangement made from that first proposed by him. Mr. Quinn then said that Mr. Quartcrman, a member of the late and also of the present committee, had been speaking to Mr. Bagnall, the chairman of the Board, and that lie said all that was necessary was that tho children should cheer when the flag was unfurled. The matter rested at that till the day of the unfurling came. On that day various parties appeared to have programmes of the proceedings, but I did not get one. I gave what ' officious' help I could. At last I was requested to march the children to the music of a band that was playing at the time. 1 told Mr. Quinn that it was impossible to get the little children to keep step with the bigger ones, but offered to march the bigger children by themselves. I could ot suffer to see children pretend to march to music when they could not possibly do it. 1 then asked where the children were to march to. Mr. Quinn said around the school, »nd they were to salute the flag—the very thing that he told me an evening or two before, would not be required. 1 said that I would not salute any flag. 1 had not refused to march the children past. There was then some hesitation, ind the committee or somebody asked Mr. Woodward, one of the residents of the district, to get the children to salute th« flag, which he did. It may ba as well to let the Board know that J subscribed my share to the fund for the purchase of the flag, and was not, 1 consider, very niggardly in further expense's to celebrate the occasion of the unfurling. The allegation quoted in the next paragraph commencing 'These are not the only samples of Mr Murray's conduct.' I think I may say that this statement is typical of the manner ill which reckless charges are made and supported against me. Thero is only one answer to such a statement —it is utterly false. One may surely hold, and even give expression to, views held ami voiced by British Privy Councillors and ex. and particularly future. Ministers of the Crown, rind supported by various British newspapers and magazines. I have always thought, and still think, ihat one may venture so far at least.—(Signed) Jas. B Mci'.rav "

The forepoine elicited the following reply from the Education Board under date of October 31:—"'Sir.—I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 19th inst., which was considered by the Hoard at its meeting Yesterday. 1. The Board accepts as satisfactory your explanation of the reasons which led you to refuse the request for granting a special holiday to celebrate Hie entry of the British into Pretoria. 2. The Board has given careful consideration to all arguments adduced by you in support of your refusal to comply with the committee's request to teach the scholars to march past and saiute the flag. Such conduct on the part of a teacher in the public service of a colony which forms part of the Britisli Empire is not to be tolerated, and the Board cannot i ermit the children under your instruction to be treated differently from the children of other public schools in the colony. The Board therefore requires of you either that you shall in the future, yourself salute the British flaa: and teach the scholars to do so, or that you shall resign your appointment as teacher under the- Board. You are desired to ac-

knowledge the receipt of this letter, and to inform the Board which of these two alternatives you are prepared to a-opt.—(Signed) V. E. K.cb."

Replying on November 9, Mr. Murray wrote in a rtsmner which was not considered satisfactory, and the secretary replied on Nov. 14 rcquestii.-r the teacher to state definitely whether you wi'l or will not salute the flag and teach the children to do so, on the day* appointed by the Board in the circular, dated May 1 last, for th« hoi-ting of the flag Mr. Murray, in the course of his reply to the last-mentioned communication from the Board (dated November 23, and read at yesterday'* meeting), says:—"lf hoisting tho flag on proper occasions, the only way British subjects are accustomed to salute it. bo considered as saluting the flat;, I will salute it, as I have hitherto done in accordance with the Board's instructions. I will also teach tho children to hoist it; it is a very simple thing to do. Thero is little use in wrangling about a word. I must, however, call attention to the fact that the Board has not, specified, neither has anyone with authority to act for it, how the flag is to bo saluted otherwise than hy hoisting it. I will appeal from the Board to each of its members individually. Let each ask himself tho following questions:—Why are our volunteers not required to salute the flag? If any of us saluted any man in a respectful manner, and the salute was not returned, would it be repeated? Would any man not besotted salute the highest dignitary in the land when the back of the latter was towards him : that is. when the salute could not be noticed? Would he salute the Governor, even the Sovereign himself, under such circumstances? Can an inanimate thing notice or return a salute? Is it not degrading; to the free-born children of this colony to try to compel them to an act of the most servile homage which is never required of English. Scotch, or Irish children, and such a? would scarcely bo expected from the pagan, barbarian slaves of a Central African | chief? Conild anything be devised more utj terly foolish than to salute an inanimate, senseless piece of drapery in the same manj ner as an intelligent, human being, believed | to be the image and likeness of his Creator, i would be saluted? One other supplementary question:—Why is one teacher selected as a victim. In conclusion, allow me to say that if I be dismissed, as appears to be foreshadowed in the recent letters of the Board, after a fair record of 20 years in its service, on account of this nonsense about the flag, the Board will inflict a great hardship on me, but it will damage its own reputation more than mine."

Tho circular issued by the Board to school committees and hcsulteaohers on May 1. 1901, and referred to in the correspondence, recommends that the following dates should be observed as suitable for the hoisting of school flags, apart from any occasions of local interest which it may be decided to observe for tho purpose:— 3, Commonwealth Day; January 29, Anniversary Day; February 5, Treaty of Waitanei ; March 17. St. Patrick's Day; April 23, St. George's Day: May 21, Victoria Day; June 3, birthday of H.R.If. the Duke of Cornwall and York; •Lino 15, Magna Charta signed; July 1. Dominion Day; August 28, slavery abolished in British possessions; October 12, Columbus discovered tho New World : October 21, battle of Trafalgar, and sailing of First Contingent for South Africa; October 22. Captain Cook landed in New Zealand ; November 9, birthday of His Most Gracious Majesty the King; November 30. St. Andrew's Day; December 13, Abel Tasman discovered New Zealand.

rile chairman moved, "That Mr. Murray be given three months' notice of dismissal." After a lengthy discussion, The motion was then put to the meeting, and carried by five votes to two, the voting being as under :—Ayes : Messrs. McKcnzie, Hobbs. Rutherford, Muir, and the movor (Mr Bagnall). Noes: Messrs. Lambo and Blades.