LEAVE TO TRAVEL ABROAD

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1934, Page 7

LEAVE TO TRAVEL ABROAD

BOARD REFUSES PERMISSION WELLINGTON TEACHER’S REQUEST. DESIRE TO PAY VISIT TO RUSSIA. APPEAL AGAINST MEMBERS’ BIAS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Leave of absence to travel abroad and visit especially Great Britain and Russia has been refused a teacher, Mr. M. Riske, by the Wellington Education Board, which declined to-day to rescind a previous motion rejecting his application. The application had been considered by the board previously in committee, and came before it yesterday as a notice of motion by Mr. P. Robertson to rescind the decision. Mr. Robertson said he thought the board would be guilty of political bias if Mr. Riske were riot granted leave without pay, which he requested. Colonel T. W. McDonald said Mr. Riske’s application was supported by the Teachers’ Institute, which was a very strong recommendation, and by many other bodies. He was a highly educated man and wished to go abroad to improve his knowledge of education. When a man was prepared to devote six months of his time without pay. to such a purpose he should be encouraged, unless it . was known that he had an ulterior motive. Mr. L. J. McDonald appealed to the members not to allow,bias.against a certain social philosophy to be the basis of their decision. That bias was not in accord with the march of events in world affairs. Great Britain and other great countries of the world had now recognised Russia. He "'as told Mr. Riske harboured Communistic opinions. His parents had been political refugees from the old regime in Russia, and it was natural that he should want to visit that country. Mr. W. E. Gascoigne said the man was either fit to be teacher or not. If they permitted teachers generally to go abroad they should not make an exception, without special knowledge. ' They could not presume that he would assimilate the worst ideas that he encountered, and even if he did give trouble when he came back he could be dealt with.' ' ' ' The motion was defeated by eight votes to five.