"PLUMS" OF THE SERVICE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15316, 11 September 1920, Page 9

"PLUMS" OF THE SERVICE.

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION. ' SHOULD A NEW ZEALANDER BE APPOINTED. WELLINGTON, last night. The House went into Committee of Supply to further consider the "estimates. Tile first vote taken was Education, £2,586,562. * Mr Sidcy moved "ail ainendirient that the item "Director of, Education £1050" bo reduced^ by £2 as an indication that the new director about to bo appointed should be a- New' Kealahdcr and that he be given twelve nkniths' leave of absence with 'ft View to his having, an opportunityof examining other systems of education. He- urged that we had men in the Dominion who were well qualified to fill ! the position and contended ,that .many | oversea appointments to the public scri vice had been great disappointments'.— Mr Wilford strongly supported the amendment. — The Hon. C. J. Parr, in -reply, said tho wppoihtincnt \>f a new Director | of Education was not in the hands of his Department or in the hands of Parliament. It rested with the Public Service Commissioner, who was '' advertising in New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain in order to get the best man. He wanieu to know what was meant by a "New ZcaInnder." Was it a- man who was born in the Dominion or a man who was living in the Dominion? "He deprecated taking a parochial view of such an important question as this.— Mr Sullivan thought the I attitude of the Minister on this question was right, but, all things being equal, a New Zealander should; get. preference.— Mr ! Holland objected to the wording of the amendment, which implied that the ap--1 pointee must be New Zealand born,— Mr Sidcy said that was not intended.— The Hon. C. J. Parr said he knew of no outstanding figure in New Zealand at the present time on whom he could put his finger and say at once "That is the man for the position."— Mr Smith (Taranaki) argued that the appointment of a director should not be made by the Public Servic* Commissioner. %

Mr Wilford disagreed with lb£ suggestion that tho Education Department had not been progressive. ' The trouble was the Department was starved for funds. The salary proposed was not sufficient to secure the very best men from other countries.— Mr Massey said he believed 'the time would come, but it was riot yet, . when young New Zealanders need not go abroad to improve their positions. He did not think we should close our doors to men from- other parts of the Empire, but he agreed that all things being equal New Zealanders should .be- appointed to : the position under discussion.— Mr Veitch 'said the people outside New Zealand appredated tho qualities • shown ; by young New Zealanders and -New Zealand herself did not. What was required was greater encouragement for the test "intellects among young New Zealaiiders to join the education service by the./prospecfc of attaining the highest positions.— Colonel Mitchell . thought New Zealanders' had a right to look forward to getting the "plums" of the setvice.-fMr v Hawk«n thought they should get tjtte:* best man available anywhere, -but the salaryAinight be made bigger— at' * least MSOOA-At 14 this stage Mr Sidey announced lie* &e"sfrcd to , alter tho "motion to read.;' that i;tsio ap-' , plicanfc • appointed : must be a raah with j educational experience in New Zealand.— I !Mr Statham said they could ttqt expect | to 1 get the best man available froin abroad for the salary offered.— The Minister, replying-,- said salaries similar to that proposed secured prominent educationalists in the United States. It .bad been suggested that hf. as Minister Was against the appointment of a local man. That was not so, but ho.-pVoposed to test whether a > better man. was obtainable [ from outside at the remuneration offered. If the best man could bo found in our midst hef should have the job. They 'must study the- interests of the children, not 'of the teachers only*— Dr. ' Newman thought there should be a board: of three ; men and a woman, each of-thoht controlling a section of education in which he lor she was specially qualified.— Mr Tarry i thought '■the Minister's assurance that a New Zealand applicant would receive preference if his qualifications were. equal to others should be accepted.— 'Mir Isitt declared that if the appointment were confined to New Zealanders they would know all about the man they got. — Mr Masters pointed put that a headmaster had re» ecu tly been Appointed to We.liityjgtttHv Collego at £1000 a year with u residence, which really brought liis isalarjr to a higher level than that of the win under whose official direction he wasr'to work. •pMr Holland opposed the amendment because it would create a bad precedent. Though he favored a New Zealander getting preference if" he had the .'•necessary qualifications the knowledge .;.' that he i must compete with 4 outsiders ';Tiot the higher appointment should bo ;in incentive to the New Zcalander to imnrove himself.— The amendment; Was lost by 38 to 14.— Press Assn.