MR ROYD GARLICK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 57

MR ROYD GARLICK.

COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY

WELLINGTON, August 14. The Parliamentary Committee set up to inquire into certain statements made in the House by Messrs Wilford, Forbes, and Laurenson concerning the appointment of Mr Royd Garlick as director of physical culture in the public schools met again this afternoon.

Mr Wilford, in opening his case, said that he realised that his charges amounted to a statement that Mr Garlick was unfit for the position. Before the inquiry was concluded he hoped he would be able to prove the justice of the position he had taken up. He claimed that Swedish drill was an essential part of proper physical culture, and that unless it was taught by an expert who thoroughly understood it it was calculated to do more harm than good. Mr Garlick was not an expert, and was therefore not qualified to teach Swedish drill. He would prove that Mr Garlick knew nothing of Swedish drill when he was appointed, and he Avould prove that the Minister did not know that Mr Garlick knew nothing of Swedish drill, because the Minister did not know what was required in a teacher of physical culture. The man who had been teaching Mr Garlick Swedish drill in Wellington would be called. He would prove that no one could get a knowledge of the drill inside six months, therefore he maintained that the appointment was not given to Mr Garlick on the grounds of fitness for the position. Questioned by the Hon. Mr Herdman, Mr Wilford said that he did not suggest that the Minister had appointed a personal friend in Mr Garlick. He was under the impression that the Hon. Mr Allen had been carried away by the maimer in which Mr Garlick had* been recommended. His charge was that Mr Garlick was unfit for the position. He had not criticised Mr Garlick from the point of view of a physical culturist. He had confined his criticism to Mr Garlick’s unfitness to teach Swedish drill To Mr Guthrie: It would require at least three years’ experience to fit one to become an instructor in Swedish drill. Some men would never qualify themselves to become instructors. Nothing would ever convince him that Mr Garlick was capable of teaching Swedish drill as set Out in the manual adopted by the Education Departments of England and New Zealand. To Mr Allen: He had described the Minister in the House as sitting in “ a secret conclave” because the meeting was not open to the press. He did not object to tire salary of £6OO when the Supplementary Estimates were brought down last year because he had no idea that the item was there. Mr Wilford then called Mr John Dalton, who claimed to be an expert in physical culture and Swedish drill, which he had learned in the navy. He was under tuition for six months. He applied to Mr Garlick in April last for the position of instructor in the Government service, He had seen Mr Garlick previously and explained his qualifications. In May Mr Garlick asked him to take his private class during the evenings. . Terms were arranged with Mr Garlick, and he taught Swedish drill, primary , and advanced. Mr Garlick was one of the class, and he took the exercises. He got into incorrect positions at times, but witness did not correct him. It would take a man who had been through the navy six months to learn Swedish drill. It would take a civilian longer. Incorrect positions were calculated to injure the pupil, causing malformation of the bones. To Mr Herdman: The manual used in the schools was a simple system of drill and would be more easily acquired than the complete system. He knew nothing of Mr Garlick’s qualifications as an instructor of physical culture. It would he difficult for a competent instructor in Swedish drill to asrume incorrect positions without knowing it. He (witness) could not speak of Mr Garlick in any other class of exercise.

Mr Carl Gustav Friberg said that in all Swedish schools there was compulsory Swedish drill. He had continued the courses for 14 years. He saw the demonstration of Swedish drill given by Mr Garlick in the Town Hall. It was more a joke than Swedish drill. It would require a good man several years to become competent to teach children. Incorrecf training would do the children great harm. There were many faults exhibited at the demonstration given by Mr Garlick.

To Mr Hcrdman : He knew nothing of Mr Garlick’s capabilities as an instructor. He had not seen the school manual, and could not gay whether those taking part in the exhibition at the Town Hall were following the hook or not. To Mr 'lTiomson : With regard to the exhibition given by Mr Garlick. it was not much like Swedish drill. ' It was an attempt at it. All systems of gymnastics were injurious if incorrectly taught.

To Mr Sidey: Some of the exorcises given at the Town Hall would have been harmful if given to children. To Mr Allen : He had no certificates or diplomas. He had no anatomical knowledge. except what he had learnt in the schools. August 15. The Royd Garlick Parliamentary Committee resumed its sittings this afternoon. Mr Wilford called Mr Walter A. Johnson. physical training instructor and inspector employed by the Government. He had been summoned to give evidence by the chairman of the committee. He produced hie certificates of qualification to teach the system of Swedish drill The certificates, were first clase and were obtained while in the navy, where he had been an instructor for several years. He took up his duties under Mr Garlick in March this year. Three other instructors were appointed at the same time. Ho began work at the Normal Training College Gymnasium. On one occasion Mr

Garlick was giving a lesson there when he failed to give the proper words of command, and called on witness to take the class in hand. That was in May, six months after he (Mr Garlick) had been appointed. The lesson was an elementary one, and Mr Garlick was not able to impart it. Mr Garlick did not know the advanced Swedish drill, and in May he did not know the words of command of the primary system. The breathing exercises introduced into the»system by Mr Garlick were dangerous, as if applied u> children a weak child might faint. The lectures on physiology given by Mr Garlick were read out of a book. He would not say that Mr Garlick was a physical culture expert. He could not gain a thirdclass certificate in the naval schools. Since the instructors started teaching they had not had any training from Mr Garlick. Mr Garlick’s time was taken up directing the movements of the instructors and breaking down the Junior Cadet system. Mr Garlick could not without the book draft a syllabus for the instruction of the teachers. Serious consequences, principally a weak heart, would follow upon the wrong teaching of the Swedish system. With slight amendment the manual in use in the schools was a beneficial primary course. The display given by Mr Garlick in the Town Hall would be ridiculed as an exhibition of Swedish drill in the English schools. In 1907 witness was one of the 60 men chosen out of the British navy to compete at the Ovmpic games in Swedish drill.

To the Hon. Mr Herdman ; He was practically dismissed front the Terra Nova by Captain Scott. He had been appointed to his present position on his qualifications. He had had no difference with Mr Garlick. He had a poor opinion of Mr Garlick’s knowledge of advanced Swedish drill. What Mr Garlick now knew of the primary system he could not say. He had discussed the weaknesses of the manual with Mr Garlick, but not Mr Garlick’s own shortcomings. He had only seen Mr Garlick perform on two or three occasions. Then he had instructed from the book. His instructions were wrong, because the book was so abbreviated that unless a teacher knew the Swedish drill thoroughly he could not teach from the book. He had not discussed Mr Garlick with anyone outside his fellow instructors. He had no idea how Mr Wilford knew he could give evidence. He had been north instructing teachers for the past few weeks, and had not seen Mr Wilford till last evening, when he was instructed Ly the office to see him. To Mr Guthrie : His criticism of the exhibition given in the Town Hall \vai based on his critical knowledge of the Swedish system. To Mr Sidey : He was still giving the breathing exercises defined by Mr Garlick, but with an addition which was dictated by common-sense. Some of the other instructors had, he understood, not altered them.

To Mr Thomson : He was satisfied with the class of instruction now being giv’en, except the breathing exercises. The organisation was now complete. To the Hon. Mr Allen : One of the exercises in the manual was not, in his opinion, sound, and it had been cut out because it was a bad position. That wae the only exercise which he thought unsound. Mr Garlick had always settled the technical questions satisfactorily, but he did not regard him as an expert in getting pupils into correct positions. He had no experience of teaching children of seven years of age. Re-examined by Mr Wilford ; He had s point of difference with an officer of the Terra Nova on a point of seamanship. He refused to apologise because he was right, and he had to leave the ship. That was how he came to leave the navy. The committee then adjourned till Tuesday evening.