TEACHERS' ENGAGEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14218, 15 November 1909, Page 6

TEACHERS' ENGAGEMENTS.

YEARLY SYSTEM IRREGULAR. ; [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] • ' Wellington, Saturday. A case of great importance and interest to the education boards and public schoolteachers of New Zealand was decided by a reserved judgment of Judge Edwards in the Supreme Court to-day, in a test case, New Zealand Educational Institute versus Marlborough Education Board. The ']' defendant Board in repent years adopted the system of engaging its teachers from year to year, and only on these terms. Action was brought by ; the institute to ascertain if such system was in. accordance with statutory legislation. -It was contended on behalf of the defendant board that 'the'. matter was one of contract; that engagements expired by effluxion of time and ,not by dismissal, as suggested. , The Court held that the system of the Marlborough Board was ; a breach of the Education-Act, and beyond the power and authority of the-Board, on the ground that by its system the provisions' as to appeal, consultation of committee upon the termination of a teacher's engagement, and the superannuation scheme, which provisions are statutory rights conferred upon teachers and committees, are ignored and rendered, if the system is effective, inapplicable to teachers employed by the defendant Board.