EDUCATIONAL MATTERS

Southland Times, Issue 19123, 15 December 1923, Page 5

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS

THE MINISTER’S ABSENCE HOLDING-UP OF BUSINESS ALLEGED DELAY DENIED. (Per United Press Association.) ? WELLINGTON, December 14. On Wednesday last there was circulated throughout the Dominion a statement by Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., chairman of the Otago University Council, corcerning grants for the new buildings for Medical and Dental schools at Dunedin. Interviewed onthe matter to-day, Hon G. J. Anderson said Mr Sidey’s statement was misleading. He was incorrect in stating that Hon C. J. Parr left the country for something like two months without leaving anyone in authority in his department. WORK OF DEPARTMENT PROCEEDING. “During Hon Mr Parr’s absence,” said Mr Anderson, “I have been Acting-Minister of Education and have attended regularly to all matters requiring Ministerial or Cabinet authority. Mr Sidey has not been fair to Mr Parr, seeing that the latter left the country on account of ill-health, and on the advice of his doctor. As a matter of fact he has been under medical treatment ever since he arrived in Sydney. The absence of the Minister from Wellington or from the Dominion, dees not hold up, except in matters of jYolicy, the business of any Government department. The report mentions only that an additional grant of £7,000 or £B,OOO for the equipment of the Medical School will be made, and omits to state that authority had been given to the Council by the Department to call for tenders for a new Medical School. This is a strange omission, for the authority given would have disproved Mr Sidey’s main statement. Again Mr Sidey is certainly not frank in his statement regarding the tenders for both Medical and Dental schools, for he refers only to the latter and does not make it known that tenders may be called for the former. Still further, Mr Sidey does not state what is well known to him: that by the* direction of Hon C. J. Parr, a committee of four was set up to go into the question of requirements for dental training in New Zealand and the best means to meet them. The committee was further to report on the possibility of the utilisation for dental purposes of accommodation that will be relinquished by the Medical School. The report of this committee is only just completed and as very important matters of policy are involved consideration of the same will take some little time. It is noted that the Press Association report of the interview with Mr Sidey concludes by stating that it is understood that the architect was in a position to call for tenders for both buildings, leaving it to be assumed that at present neither can be proceeded with, whereas, as shown above, these are two entirely distinct buildings. Authority has been given to proceed at once with the building of the Medical School. “It is regretted,” remarked Hon Mr Anderson, “that even if the chairman of the Otago University Council wished to criticise the Minister he did not state the position clearly and fairly.” EDUCATION BOARD CHAIRMAN. The Minister also took exception to the statement credited to Mr Wallace, chairman of the Otago Education Board, that until Mr Parr comes back there is no one in authority to do anything, and the whole education business seems to be held up. It was on all fours with that made l)y Mr Sidey—absolutely devoid of truth. Nothing had been held back or delayed in consequence of Mr Parr’s absence. The Minister said he noticed that Mr Caughley had challenged Mr Wallace to furnish particulars in support of his allegations and he endorsed the action of Mr Caughley in that regard. Statements such as those made by the gentlement mentioned can only be understood as having one intention, that is to discredit the Government in the eyes of the citizens of Dunedin. They are quite unwarranted, as in education matters Dunedin and Otago have benn exceedingly well treated by the present Government in respect to University, secondary and primary education.

There are “twigs on the green” in educational circles as, according to a Dunedin telegram, Mr Wallace (chairman of the Otago Education Board) has accepted the challenge made by the Director of Education to prove his statement that educational matters are being neglected through the absence of the Minister (Hon C. J. Parr) in Australia. This he will do, he answers, at the January meeting of his Board.