TEACHERS RIGHTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2659, 15 November 1909, Page 5

TEACHERS RIGHTS.

A TEST CASE

I'Peu Press Association.! ■WELLINGTON, Nov. 13

A case of great importance and interest to Education Boards and public school teachers of New Zealand was decided by Judge Edwards at the Supreme Court to-day, when he delivered judgment in the test case, New Zealand Educational Institute- verses Marlborough Education Board. The defendant board in recent years adopted a system of engaging its teachers from year to year, and would engage only on these terms, and an action was brought by the Institute to ascertain if such a system was- in accordance with statutory legislation. It was contended on behalf of the defendant board that the matter was one of a contract engagement, which expired by effluxion of time, and was not dismissed, as suggested. The Court held that the system adopted by the Marlborough Board was a. breach of the Education Act and beyond the power and authority of the board, on the ground that by the system provisions as to appeal, consultation of the Gazette upon the termination of the teacher’s engagement, and the superannuation scheme, which provisions are statutory rights conferred upon teachers and committees, are ignored, and 1 if the system is effective, rendered them inapplicable to teachers employed by the defendant board.