BECAUSE TIME WAS PRESSING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13172, 4 September 1913, Page 9

BECAUSE TIME WAS PRESSING.

HOW MR GARLICK WAS INDUCED TO ACCEPT.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The Royd Garlick Committee resumed this afternoon. George Hogben, Inspector-General of Schools, explained, that the ' system of physical training m public schools was unsatisfactory until Mr Allen came into office. He took the matter u_>, ajid wrote a memorandum to witness, asking him to arrange a committee of advice to discuss the scheme. The committee recommended that a director be appointed, and witness recommended Mr Garlick, because time was pressing. He was satisfied that Mr fhrlick was the man best qualified' m tho Dominion for the position. It would have taken six months to advertise m England and Australia. It was necessary to get some scheme of physical training m operation to supersede the junior cadet system, which bad drifted into chaos. After fully considering all likely applicants, he came to the conclusion that Mr Garlick was best fitted for the position. His first recommendation was a salary of £420, rising to £450, but Mr Garlick convinced ham that this was not sufficient, and he finally agreed to accept £600. The system of p'kysical training adopted was not purely Swedish. The Aldershot system was too severe for school children. Be was quite satisfied with Mr Garlick's ability when he recommended him, and now. His recommendation was largly due to the excellent work Mr Garlick did on the advisory committee. Witness did not consider it necessary to have a medical man as director. He had never made a recommendation to the public service that he did not honestly believe was m the interest of the service.

To Mr Wilford: The appointment was not a panic one. The salary was fixed at £600 because it was a question of supply and demand. He thought now it would have been wiser to advertise, but would not admit that a mistake had been made. He still thought the best man available was appointed. Mr Royd Garlick gave particulars of his studies m physical training. He claimed a longer and better knowledge of Swedish drill than any witness produced by Mr Wilford. He knew how to apply his knowledge to practical purpose, lie answered the criticism of previous witnesses, and described the organisation of the Department and the difficulties met with — the apathy of the boards, and the hostility, of teachers. In reply to Mr Herdman, he repudiated the suggestion that Dr. Moses had prepared the breaffhing exercises m the manual, which he prescribed out of his knowledge of the work. He had already trained over 800 teachers m the elementary principles of the system. His future plans were hampered by the difficulty of getting the boards to summon teachers for instruction.

Replying to Mr Allen, Mr Garlick denied that he had eyer been approached by the Minister or officials as to his political opinions. He rebutted, the statement made by Mr Johnston that one exercise m the manual was unsafe. The Obmmittee adjourned until 3 o'clock to-morrow.