E.—l4

54

469. Mr. Davidson.] What time of the year, Mr. Easton, did you say the hop-picking took place ? —From about the 10th or 12th February this year, and continued until the end of the first week in April. 470. Do you know of any provision that is made in other countries where hop-growing is one of the principal industries, say, the eastern part of Victoria, in the Gippsland district, where a few special days are set apart for the picking of hops, which period is known as " hop holidays "? Do you think if such an arrangement obtained here that it would overcome the difficulty ?—Possibly. We take our holidays during March, so as to obviate as far as possible the evil inflicted by the hoppicking. Both before and after the holidays we are affected by bad attendance. 471. The Chairman.] You find the period set apart for fruit- and hop-picking is too great ?— Yes; it affects the attendance in my school very much ; the average for last quarter was only 51 per cent, of the roll-number. 472. Mr. Stewart.] Does the dairying industry interfere with school-work ?—No. 473. With regard to certificates, do you not think that the whole of your difficulties would be met by a simplification of the present system of certificates ?—Yes; I think, myself, the present system of certificates is much too involved. 474. Do you think it is understood by School Committees and others who have the power of appointment ? —I do not think they understand much about it. From my experience I should say that they know nothing of the relative value of certificates. 475. Do you think it would be better to grant an absolute teaching-certificate in one or two grades, and then allow the pass degree to stand as an extra qualification ?—I think you should have certificates showing high literary attainments as well as high technical skill. 476. Would not the B.A. degree show that ?—Yes. 477. Suppose a man passes the B.A. Examination and he has the figure "1" on his certificate, he becomes a Bl ?—Yes. , 478. Does that enhance his qualifications :is the Bl of any help to him ? Or do you think the present system of certificates too elaborate?— Yes, I do. 479. Mr. Hill.] Do you not think that the difficulty in fluctuating attendance might be overcome by the hop-picking being looked upon as a technical training, and a certain number of days set apart for the children for that purpose ?—No ; raspberry-, blackberry-, and hop-picking extend over three months. 480. But could not a certain number of days be set aside for this purpose as technical training for the children ? —Yes, if the Government would allow attendance in the fruit-gardens to count as attendance at school. 481. Which do you think the most important in the case of teachers, technical skill or academic status ?—Technical skill, undoubtedly. 482. Which do. you think in the estimation of Committees and Education Boards receives the most consideration in the classification of teachers, skill or academic status ? —I should say academic status, as shown by the higher letter held. 483. Supposing the Education Department was to issue a certificate perfectly separate from the university status and make it as difficult for a university man to get a certificate as it is for an ordinary individual —that is, the technical man—do you think that would not be a better way of treating the academic man ? Do you think that a certificate issued by the Education Department separate from the present arrangements would be the better one in place of the present arrangements ?—lf the department were to tabulate the subjects, then the applicant for a certificate should be required to pass in those subjects. 484. You mean that a man possessing academic status should be required to pass subjects equally with the other' —Yes. 485. Mr. Gilfedder.] What is your average attendance at the present time?— About 50, I think. 486. What salary are you receiving ?—£l4s. 487. Under the new system of classification what salary would you receive ?—£ls9. 488. Do you consider that this proposed scale would be an improvement on the state of affairs existing in Nelson at the present time ?—Yes. 489. Have you had much experience in schools of this size ?—Yes. 490. How many pupils do you consider a sole teacher can efficiently manage in a country school ?—lt would depend on the number of classes he would have. 491. Take the average country school up to the Fffth Standard, including the Fifth Standard? ■ —-If he had no higher standard than the Fifth, I should say 35 to 40. 492. Do the teachers experience any hardship in this district owing to the want of house accommodation or allowance ? —No. 493. The salaries we see in your report are in addition to house allowance or residences ? —Yes. 494. With regard to Inspectors and the question of marks : you know that there is a lack of uniformity in the assignment of Inspector's marks?— Yes, I believe so. 495. Have you had any experience or suffered an injustice in that direction, and have you known any teachers in your Institute who have met with that difficulty ?—No. 496. Will assistant teachers be assigned the figure El or Dl without requiring to go into a country school to teach? — e.g., some Inspectors make a rule that assistant teachers shall not rise to the figure "1": supposing a teacher may have a D 2, he must remain at that. Does that state of things obtain here ?—I did not know there was any regulation to that effect. 497. Mr. Hogben.] With regard to your opinion on the subject of certificates : you are aware that any one requiring a certificate for C, D, or E must pass an examination in certain subjects, (jMasi-professional, outside the other (literary) subjects. Do you think he should be exempt in school method ?—No.