MR BECK REPLIES TO CRITICISM

Southland Times, Issue 23677, 28 November 1938, Page 3

MR BECK REPLIES TO CRITICISM

STATEMENT MADE AT WINTON BOARD MEMBERS’ REMARKS RESENTED A reply to what he describes as a “bitter personal attack” made by members of the Southland Education Board when commenting on a statement made by Mr J. A. Beck “that Stewart Island had been neglected from an education point of view” has been handed to The Southland Times by Mr Beck. “I am amazed at the utterances of two members of the board about a statement, made by me at Winton, about the inadequacy of manual training facilities at Stewart Island,” states Mr Beck.

“The position is that when I visited Stewart Island during the election campaign I was approached by several responsible citizens who had children attending the school and was asked if, in the event of my being successful at the poll, I would give support to their desire to have more modern facilities provided both in the matter of manual training and a playing area. After being made fully aware of the promise made by the Minister of Education (when he visited the island) and as a result of being shown over the school and grounds, together with a full discussion on the matters concerned, I am satisfied that their request is thoroughly justified, and to say that I do not know the facts is a gross mis representation on the part of the two members of the Education Board.” The fact that one or two residents could afford to send their children to Invercargill for secondary education, did not, in his opinion, or in the opinion of the Government, justify the great bulk of the workers’ children being totally deprived of reasonable opportunity better to fit themselves for the modern world, he said. The statement complained of was made during his reference to the numerous requests that he had been asked to support in the event of his being elected, and although of no more importance to the electorate than many others that he mentioned, it happened to be the only one that was given publicity in the Press, said Mr Beck. “The Education Board was never mentioned, or even thought of during the course of my remarks, but what I would like to know is under what form of dictatorship do certain members of the board claim the right to censure my reference to requests made to me by responsible citizens during the election ?

“As for the alleged misrepresentation, it would appear that my conception of what is adequate in the way of education facilities differs radically from that of the two gentlemen mentioned and their statement that my remarks would be excusable during the election, would indicate that, in their opinion, an election is an opportune time to make any sort of false statement. That is not my idea and any statements that I made during the election, or since, I still stand by and make no apology for whatever. “I regret that both Mr Bell and Mr Rice apparently cannot take a wider outlook on matters pertaining to public well-being arid can only see fit to indulge in a bitter personal attack,” he added.