APPOINTMENT CRITICISED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8481, 16 July 1913, Page 2

APPOINTMENT CRITICISED

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.” Sir,—l am glad to see that there are some M.P.'s who do not fear to speak out on a subject which is a scandal, and the country owes it to Mr AVilford, M.P., for bringing forward the matter of the appointment of Mr Eoyd Garlick. Evidently Mr Royd Garlick is a man of a most unassuming disposition, and it is a great pity that there ore not more like him in the community. Only fancy, a man so endowed with kindly feelings, that when asked to accept an appointment with £6OO a year attached, refusing on the ground that he could make more if he carried on his business privately, and it was only when hardly pressed that he consented to accept it I I see the Inspector-General is again figuring in the matter. What docs he know about physical drill? How is it that the Minister who is credited with having a mind and will of his own, is always led by tho Inspector-General, who is Well known as tho author of “fads,” and some of them including tho plasticine one, will land the country in enormous expense, and surely it is already burdened enough'Without more expensive “fads” being added to it. I hope Mr Wilford will ask another question or two in connection with this appointment. How long is it to last? Will Mr Garlick have to travel to the different public schools of the Dominion in order to teach the teachers, and what is likely to be the cost? Are the teachers to ho paid extra for teaching the drill, at what hours is it to be taught, and what subject will it displace?

Will a particular kind of costume require to be worn during the drill, and if so who is to bear the cost?

I appeal to M.P.’s on uotn sides ol the House to set their faces against any more such appointments being made at the instigation of tne Inspec-tor-General of Schools, and that all such billots are thrown open to public competition. How is it that tho children of the present day appear to be so weakly as to require special teaching to make them physically strong? Did their grandfathers and grandniothers have any such drill in order to make them the sturdy people they have proved themselves to be? Did the soldiers who fought in Peninsular war, at Waterloo, Crimea, and other places, and sailors who fought at Trafalgar, the Nile, etc., go through any physical drill ? Did the volunteers in the Maori war, or tho Boer war, go through it, and were they any the worse for it?

Why do girls now require to have physical drill? Will it make them any better wives and mothers? Do men require to have their wives with muscles in their arms and legs, like “coal heaver” and “ballet dancers”? Perhaps, however, the girls are going to give up office and house work, and go in for bush whacking, ploughing, shearing, etc., and so let the men have easier times

1 forgot. It is only a short time ago that some individual suggested that he should be employed to teach the children at the public schools how to play! Evidently for some reason not known, ho did not meet with the sympathy of the Inspector-General, or wo would have had another nice little job foisted upon us.—l am, etc., EDUCATION RUN RIOT.