NEW CHIEF INSPECTOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14391, 9 June 1910, Page 6

NEW CHIEF INSPECTOR.

MR. MULGAN APPOINTED. - SOME CLOSE VOTING. The question of appointing a new chief inspector of schools was the subject of a very lively discussion at the last meeting of the Auckland Education Board a fortnight ago. On that occasion no decision was arrived at, and the subject again appeared on the order paper at yesterday's meeting of the Board. When the lost meeting adjourned there wag-a motion before the Board to appoint Mr. Edward K. Mulgan, MA., of Canterbury, to which an amendment had been proposed that Mr. Edmond C. Purdie, of Whangarei, should receive the position. In re-infreducing the subject yesterday, the chairman (Mr. C. J. Parr) said he very much regretted that so much feeling had been engendered by the former discussion, and for his own part he was sorry his remarks had not a little more of the "oiled feather" in them; but he took the stand he did in all good faith, believing the situation warranted his attitude. He hoped members would now approach the subject with calmness, and an absence of personal recriminations and feeling. The question was undoubtedly one of great importance, and all personal predilections should be placed on one side. Proceeding, the chairman said : "Quite a lot of very hard things were 6aid on both sides. Mr. Harris particularly was a bit rough on me at last meeting." Mr. Harris : And you were just as rough —more rough, in facton me." , The Chairman : Well, perhaps so, but please let the matter drop now. We have weighty responsibilities to discharge, and let us approach them in a dispassionate spirit and proper sense of their importance. On the amendment that Mr. Purdie be appointed being put to the meeting the voting was : —For : Messrs. Harris and McKenzie. Against: Messrs. Parr, Greenslade, Garland. Barriball, Edgecumbe, and Farmer. Mr. Farmer then moved as a further amendment that Mr. Charles W. Garrard be appointed. He said he considered the man for the chief inspectorship should be a man with backbone and tact. Inseconding the amendment, Mr. Harris sai<l he was sorry. Mr. Purdie's nomination had been rejected, but after him Mr. Garrard was the best man to select. The Boardrequired a man who would lead the teachers, and one to whom the teachers would look up. ' , Mr. McKenzie said he was prepared to support Mr. Garrard in preference to Mr. Mutgan, because he considered academic attainments were not the only qualifications required for the position of chief inspector, and he believed Mr. Garrard was a man of tact and ability, well fitted to hold such, a post- . . ~ ' The Chairman said his views on the matter were that the chief inspector should be a man of high scholastic attainments, who had had practical experience of the work of primary school teaching, and holding high, credentials ,as proof of his success. In addition, he must be able to perform his duties with dignity and impressivenoss, and be so fully versed in the higher grades of our educational system as to appreciate the possibilities of primary schools as nurseries to higher educational institutions. Mr. Parr said he considered Mr. Mulgan was a man capable of filling those requirements. Mr. Garrard had always been an obliging and capable inspector, but he was not a senior inspector, having only four years* experience as an inspector, as against 12 years credited to Mr. Mulgan, while the latter gentleman's academic qualifications were far higher. > f On the amendment being put Messrs. Greenslade, McKenzie, Farmer, and Harris, voted for Mr. Garmrd's appointment, 'while Messrs. Parr, Garland, Barriball, and Edgecumbe. voted against the amendmentThe chairman gave his casting vote against Mr. Garrard's appointmentMr. David A. Strachan, M.A., of Marlborough, was next • proposed by Mr. McKenzie, but this nomination was only supported by Messrs. Harris and Farmer.* This having disposed of the amendments, the original motion in favour of Mr. Mulgan being appointed chief inspector -was put the meeting, and the voting was :— For : " Messrs. Parr, Greenslade, Garland, Barriball, and Edgecumbe. ~ Against : Messrs- McKenzie 2 Harris and Farmer. Mr. E. K. Mulgan,* M.A., became an inspector under the Auckland Education Board in 1898, and held this appointment until 1906, when he went to Christchurch to fill a similar position under the North Canterbury Education Board. ; Mr. Mulgan graduated in the New Zealand University in 1895, and the following year obtained first-class honours in natural science. He subsequently gained the B.Sc. and M. degrees. In addition to these scholastic attainments, Mr. Mulgan holds the "Al." qualification under the Education Act. The new chief inspector will take up his duties at Auckland in a few weeks. ... . " '