THE OTHER SIDE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17153, 1 October 1926, Page 10

THE OTHER SIDE

COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION, ENQUIRY CONTINUED. CASE FOR THE PRINCIPAL. \ (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. At the Technical College inquiry, Mr. Leary, in opening the case for Air, Park, said it was remarkable that Mr. Laing should have launched bold and unfounded charges, sustained ’ his attack for twelve months, petitioned Parliament twice, and after preparing his case, and obtaining legal advice, should have withdrawn for financial reasons. He did not hesitate to say that, if the inquiry had home out Mr. Laing’s brief to his counsel, there would have been no withdrawal. Before leaving, Mr. Laing had done* much harm by making irresponsible and venomous accusations, and had dragged in the names of a number of persons who were suffering disquietude as a result. It was necessary that Mr. Park should be allowed to give evidence in reply, even though, iii 'doing so, he was compelled to hurt tlie feelings of various people whom hel would have to discuss. It was unfortunate that Mr. Laing had not brought the witnesses whose allegations lie had trumpeted so loudly. As it was, there was only the shadow oftheir evidence to fight. Charles Alexander Stewart, the director of the Invercargill Technical College, who for the three years prior to last June had been the departmental bead at the Auckland College, was the first witness called. ITe produced a return of the entries and passes at the matriculation and other public examinations. This showed that the percentage of passes in successive years had been as follows: 1919, 33 per cent.; 1920, 42 per cent.; 1921, 39 per cent.; 1922, 30 per cent.; 1923, 33 per cent.; 1924, 51 per cent. ; 1925, 43 pe>r cent. There had been a progressive improvement of passes since Air. Park’s arrival in 1922, except-for the drop in 1925, due to the infantile paralysis epidemic. MANY IMPROVEMENTS. Witness, who said ho came to the college some mouths before Mr. Park was made director, expressed the opinion that Mr. Park had made great improvements in the organisation and general management of the institution. When ho arrived the staff was unhappy, the school was conducted uude>r an irritating excess of rules, and the pupils were subjected to a military form of discipline which prevented the usual friendly relationship between them and their teachers. Mr. Park had shown a great deal of tact and courtesy to the staff, and had even erred in allowing the teachers rather too easy access to him. Except for a group of tlie teachers, the staff loyally upheld him, and when witness left tho general condition of the college, except for this, was as happy as could be desired. Soon after Mr, Park’s arrival, a group of four masters, of whom Mr. Allen was Hie leader, adopted a general sneering attitude to Air. Park, and said much in common about the influence of Wanganui on the school. Air. Park, in evidence, denied that there had been nny policy of victimisation, and said the various staff changes had been made in the interests of Hie college, bv authority of the Board of Governors and with the approval of tho Education Department officials. Ho was convinced that the work of the college bad improved as a result. Mr. Laing’s dismissal, said Air. Park, had become inevitable by bis conduct and the trouble lie had caused, both before and after presenting his petition to Parliament,. The petition was unique in the history of education in'New Zealand, and tliei retention of its author upon the staff of the college would have been impossible without incurring all manner of difficulties. Mr.’ Lain? bad been one of the small coterie of discontented masters, who systematically opposed him in his work, and had detrimentally affected the management of the college. TROUBLE WITH BOARD. Air. Towle asked the witness whether there was any truth in the suggestion that he had dominated the Board of Governors. Mr. Park replied that he found tho charge distinctly amusing. As a matter of fact, lie had had a rather stormy passage so far as the board was concerned. Ever since be bad been director, a group of members whom, individually, he esteemed, bad gone in for organised oppo : sition to many of his proposals, and had made things rather difficult for him at times. Some members, tin his opinion, bad been too willing to let the teachers approach them. Not all his recommendations, by any means, had been adopted by the board, and some decisions had been made in direct opposition to them. Nevertheless, even the section of members referred to bad recognised that some of the changes attacked by Air. Laing wore necessary for the good of the college. Mr. Allen, who bad been invited to attend after the lunch adjournment to hear Air. Park’s evidence concerning liilriself, and bad then intimated that lie bad not wish to be joined as a party to the inquiry, was given an opportunity to cross-examine the witness, but lie intimated that lie did not wish to ask any

questions. The sitting was adjourned until tomorrow. ... ..