SCHOOLBOY ATHLETES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 12

SCHOOLBOY ATHLETES

VISIT TO MELBOURNE NO LEAVE FOR MASTER MINISTER EXPLAINS POSITION [BY: TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday An explanation of his action in not agreeing to allow leave of absence on pay to a master to act as manager of the team of New Zealand college athletes to Melbourne during the Centenary celebrations was made to-day by the Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Education.

"A report which has been published makes it appear I am not keen on the visit taking place," said Mr. Masters. "As a matter of fact, the difficulty is that there is no power under the existing regulations to grant leave on pay in a case of the kind.

"There is provision for leave on account of sickness, accident, on attendance at the University Senate, Teachers' Superannuation Board, Teachers' Grading Appeal Board, conferences called by the Education Department, examinations for teachers' certificates or university degrees. There is also a clause which states that a board may, with the approval of the Minister, grant leave of absence to any teacher for the purpose of visiting schools or other educational institutions in New Zealand or elsewhere, and that the .teacher shall receive during the period of absence such salary (if any) as may be prescribed by regulation or approved by the Minister.

"In my opinion, however, being in charge of a party of athletes at the Melbourne Centenary celebrations cannot be regarded as coming within the scope and intention of this clause. The Secondary Schools' Association suggested to me that if the manager were placed under an obligation to investigate some aspect of secondary education in Victoria, the spirit of the regulations could be fulfilled, but this did not appeal to me, and I am sorry that it was advanced. Moreover, there is no investigation which the department requires to be made concerning secondary education in Victoria.

"I regret that arrangements which the association had in hand for sending a certain teacher as manager should have broken down owing to there being no authority to grant leave on pay, but I have no doubt about a representative being forthcoming as a result of a circular which I understand the association is sending to its members inviting applications for the position."