A BROKEN MAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 102, 21 July 1927, Page 1

A BROKEN MAN

TEACHER ON NIUE AUCKLANDER’S PETITION (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. THE story of a Niue island school teacher's vicissitudes was told in a petition introduced into the House of Representatives to-day by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, asking for a life compassionate allowance. The petitioner was Alexander M. Cowan, of Kumeu, Auckland, who said that in 1914 he was appointed assist-ant-teacher and technical instructor at Tufukia School. Niue, and left New Zealand to carry out his duties there. On arrival he was instructed to take charge, for the time being, as the then head teacher was leaving on furlough; but he was told that a head teacher would arrive by the next boat from New Zealand. The head teacher did not arrive for 10 months, during which time petitioner had to carry on the duties of both head teacher and assistant. He carried on the duties as assistant until the end of 1918, and then left for New Zealand on leave on the promise of a transfer, but at the end of furlough he was informed that as the Minister could get no one to take a position in Niue, it was necessary for him to return there. Petitioner was then promised an appointment in New Zealand at an early date. On his return to Niue, however, he was again put in charge as head teacher, and instructed to carry on until another arrived, and in order to carry out his duties he had to take technical, school classes out of school hours. On account of the undue strain he was prostrated with rheumatic fever, and after two months’ serious illness was returned to New Zealand, where he had to undergo careful nursing. Three months later he again returned to Niue to carry on double duty, and again suffered from the same illness; but notwithstanding continued the double duty until he was finally relieved in July, 1922, and returned to New Zealand. He was completely broken down in health and since had been permanently invalided. He seeks an allowance by way of a lump sum, or a pension for the rest of his life.