VOTE BY TEACHERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 44

VOTE BY TEACHERS.

ACTION BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL. WELLINGTON, May 19. Referring to a Press Association telegram from Wellington, dated May 9, regarding tlie taking of a vote of the school teachers on the Bible-in-sehools question by a private individual, I. C. Prudhoe, of Christchurch, who says he is the person referred to, has written to the Educational Institute explaining his reasons for the action. He claims that his action is justified by the fact that in July, 1923, the executive was asked bv the Wanganui branch to take immediate steps to have a vote by all teachers, and that, as far as he is aware, no vote has been taken. There was therefore no possible chance of the executive granting a similar request from himself, and, even if granted, he could not assume that the vote would be in the form desired—in a form that especially would elicit the opinions of teachers on the question of repealing the secular pioviso. Mr Prudhoe says that no organisation has anything to do with the taking of the vote, he being solely responsible for it. The voting papers are to be treated as confidential, and will be kept in a safe until they are to be dealt with. He purposes to ask the president and secretary of the Justices of the Peace Association to act with him in opening and counting the papers. If the executive withdraws its advice to members to r<> frain from voting, he will accept its nomination of any two other Canterbury justices as scrutineers