TRAINING COLLEGE STAFFS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20874, 14 November 1929, Page 13

TRAINING COLLEGE STAFFS.

AMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS. WELLINGTON BOARD’S COMPLAINT. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON. November 13. The amendments to the training college regulations affecting training college staffs and students, which were brought into force by Order-in-Council gazetted on October 31, were discussed at the Wellington Education-Board meeting to-day; “You know, gentlemen, that there-ha’s always, been a little trouble in connection with the administration of the Training College,” said- the, chairman (Mr T. Forsyth). The administration was in the hands of the board subject to the approval or veto of the department. The department bad created many anomalies and friction. The board would recollect the trouble over the appointment of the principal to the Training College, and the attitude of the department and the Minister in refusing to confirm the appointment of the Committee of Advice which had chosen the applicant best suited to the position. It was a very deliberate attempt by Order-in-Council and regulation “ framed up,” so that these regulations would be retrospective to give fullpower to the Minister, by direction of the department. The department directed the Minister. However, on that occasion public opinion was bitterly opposed to the matter, and it was dropped and withdrawn. The bitterest point was that the present Minister of Education was at the time directly opposed to the action of the Minister and the department. Now the position bad arisen when the board was appointing a vice-principal to the Training College. Mr Atmore was now in the place of Mr Wright, and the department stood where it had. always stood and was out for centralisation. The board’s recommendation for. the vice-principalship had Been sent to the Minister, who declined, to approve of it. He wanted a certain man appointed, but the board declined to do this and there had been many conferences on' the natter. In the meantime the delay had been detrimental to the working of the college. At last after considerable pressure on the Minister he liad decided to ignore the advice of his officers and allow the board to rc-advertise the position. The department immediately asked the board when it would be rcadvertising. and was told November 1. On October 31 the new regulations had been quietly slipped through. This was a distinct reversal of policy, said Mr Forsyth, and he believed the regulations had been put through to enable the Minister to appoint the nominee ho mentioned months ago or one suggested by the department. Orders-in-Council and government by regulation were obnoxious to all men, but when it was carried still further and the regulations put ■through for one individual, it came to a point where the board should express, its mind quite clearly. There was a very grave danger in this latest move of the department, and he believed that the department had done it. The Minister had been directed by his officers to bring in the regulations, and be would not be surprised if the same gentleman the Minister had recommended was forced into the position of vice-principalship. The other boards had been communicated with and Otago and Auckland had sent telegrams supporting the Wellington Board. Mr Forsyth then moved—“ That the board jnake a strong protest against this move of the Minister and the department in seeking to obtain centralisation and control, and against the gross act of discourtesy in passing the regulations without either consulting the boards or notifying them afterwards.” Air P,.- Robertson supported the chairman, He said, that although the Prime Minister was ill the matter was one of such urgency thet lia should be approached.

Mr C. H. Nicholls referred to the con* turned “ whittling-down ” of the boards’ powers. He was convinced the Minister was acting on information supplied to him by his department. He suggested that the resolution should lie telegraphed to every education board, together with a line on what the .Wellington Board thought of the matter. V T xr Poi S J ’, tb,s was carried. ancLftlr Robertson’s suggestions to fornt<? be .^ r ' uie Minister, and Mr ivichollss motion to communicate the boards attitude to the boards throughout the Dominion were also' adopted „ !t was explained that the Committee "' aS made up of lhe wnior inspectoi a representative of the outside districts, winch sent students to the college.. the professor of education, nnd the chairman of the board. The principal ..f College a Iso" attended, men f ' lello,ls - ou could not get better

Mr J. J. Clark brought up the subject of women applicants for the position of iCSCSiv „f H S. I “' i b “ ”■" «k bj seriously the claims of Sen 7oTZ vice-priucipaliship. He moved—-'Thit the clause m the Committee 0 nf a a •> but Mr Clarke motion was Incf v: i n board S'TmCZ-"”' of Clause .6 (1) Appointments to the staff staff vac , i ? nt Position on the invite nnnMenf' c ° lle S e the hoard shall invite applications by advcrtisi'm/mt he Education Gazette T eI«S Z the Minister mav remnre 1,. c ah £ r z rWi 18 * 6 * /i, or hla approval, Th e board Ministr- Ml ‘'V? 6 , f . or "’ard to the been e • j , applications that have been received for the position, together cants. ‘ testimonials of *l] the appli-- ' /k) the Minister approves of the selection to made he shall inform the board of his approval, nnd the board shall hereupon appoint to the vacant position the person selected, but if the Minister does not approve of the selection he shall notify . the board of his non-approval, and nnn!P. oar * d thereupon select another applicant and submit -his name to the Minister for approval. Upon receipt of notification of the Minister’s approval 15cordingfy. Sh the a PP oint ™m in (C ,lJLn° uPPuiutnient has been made w *tb the previous paramnwrtf ° f f» t ,ls „ su b-dause within three tbe date on which the boards first selection was submitted to tl,e . Minister may either direct that the position shall be re-adver-tised. in which case the procedure shall be that prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) hereof, or may himself select and appoint one of the applicants and notify the board of such selection and appointment. (d) Except in regard to the appointment of the principal and vice-principal of the training college, the Committee of Advice may delegate its functions iu re* spect to appointments to the senior inspector of schools. Under the former regulation the wording of clause 6 (1) was: “After consult.!tion with the Committee of Advice the board shall make recommendations to the Munster regarding appointments to the staff of- the - training college and of each practising school, and on receipt of the Minister’s approval thereto the board shall make appointments accordingly, except in regard to the appointments of the principal and vice-principal of the training college and the headmaster of each practising school. The Committee of Advice may delegate its function in respect to appointments to the senior inspector of schools.”