THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12536, 6 May 1915, Page 1

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

Pee Pkess Association. Christchurch. May 5. The North_ Canterbury Education Board has decided to communicate with other Boards with a view to holding «•' conference in Wellington at. an early •date, or during the sitting of Parliament, to discuss the Education Act of 191-i. It was also decided to bring -under the notice of the Minister the reduction in teachers' salaries, resulting from the Department taking advantage, it is said, ol a technical point. The Appointments Committee's report on the subject, which was adopted, was that the secretary had submitted a list of teachers whose salaries had been reduced owing to a fall in grade of their respective schools. The Department had ruled that section "79, subsection 7. under which teachers who remain in the -same position shall continue to receive the same salary, was not in operation on Ist January. 1915, and consequently the salaries of these teachers had been reduced to the maximum of the lower grade. It was agreed to bring, the matter under the notice of the Minister, and. to point out the injustice the teachers in question would suffer, unless the' spirit- of the Act be adhered- to. ' ■ '. ...

Timaru, Mot 5. The Education Boundaries Commission sat. here to-day, taking evidence in support of South Canterbury's plea to bo retained as an Education District. Witnesses were heard representing the Education Board.. school committees, teachers, and technical schools, the agricultural. instructor, and Inspectors Gow and Valentine.' In reply, to the chairman all witnesses stated they were strongly against splitting the district, and preferred being joined, with North Canterbury rather than Otago. on the grpuiid;of community of other interests. One suggestion offered was to retain Timaru as a centre, enlarging the, dis-' trict, with new boundaries to the.Rakaia and Kakanui Rivers. Tho Commission will -sit again at 10 a..m tomorrow in ca-se other -evidence is offering, ■and'."'trill then go on to Christchurch. .