E.—l4.

1901. NEW ZEALAND.

STAFFS OF SCHOOLS AND SALARIES OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS (REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE).

Laid upon the Table of both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

COMMISSION.

To Michael Gilfedder, of Invercargill, Alexander Wilson Hogg, of Masterton, Frank Yates Lethbridge, of Bull's, and Thomas Mackenzie, of Dunedin, members of the House of Representatives ; Samuel Luke, of Auckland, a member of the Education Board of the District of Auckland; Thomas Shailer Weston, of Christchurch, Chairman of the Education Board of the District of North Canterbury ; Henry Hill, of Napier, and John Smith, of Blenheim, Inspectors of Schools ; and William Davidson, of Mornington, and Ralph Duncan Stewart, of Auckland, schoolmasters : Greeting. Whereas it is expedient that a Commission should be appointed to consider the best method of establishing a uniform scale of staff and salaries to be in force throughout the Colony of New Zealand, under which the number of teachers employed in public schools maintained under " The Education Act, 1877," having an equal number .of children in average daily attendance, shall, as far as possible, be the same, and the teachers holding similar positions to one another shall, other things being equal, be paid equal salaries: Now, therefore, I, Uchter John Mark, Earl of Banfurly, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, in pursuance and exercise of all powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, and by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, do hereby appoint you, the said Michael Gilfedder, Alexander Wilson Hogg, Frank Yates Lethbridge, Thomas Mackenzie, Samuel Luke, Thomas Shailer Weston, Henry Hill, John Smith, William Davidson, and Ralph Duncan Stewart, to be a Commission to inquire and report as to the principles upon which such uniform scale as aforesaid should be based, taking into consideration the total amount payable by the Government of the colony for such purposes as are