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Westland and the Grey, and. I might add, to Taranaki District. You must take into consideration that in reference to these small schools, we pay the full salaries to the teachers. We do not ask the residents in the district to contribute anything, and it is very hard at times to provide teachers for these schools with only an attendance of 7 or 8. . ■- , 111 If under a colonial scale the schools of the colony were graded, and certain faxed salaries were apportioned for each grade of school, there would be no necessity for making an exception in the case of these small districts, would there?— Yes, there would be, for I understand that you do not take into consideration schools with an attendance under 12. . 112. You said that, in your opinion, a special capitation grant of £5 should be paid to tnese small schools ? —Yes. i o v 113. If that is provided for in a colonial scale it would meet with your approval.'— les. 114. Have you gone into the suggested scale carefully?— Yes. . , .-. «. .■* 115 Then, "you will find that the very suggestion you make has been carried into effect tor you will notice it says, " Aided schools, 1 to 14, capitation £5 " ?-I have not had time to look through all the schedules. Even a capitation of £5 would be rather small for these schools; for instance, take the No Town School, with an attendance of 8, a capitation of £5 per head would give, say, ±,4U, and, as we pay the teacher £60, there would be a loss of £20. _ - 116 In your opinion, a minimum salary of not less than £60 should be paid to the teachers of these small schools ?—I think nothing less than £75 should be paid, considering the cost oi living which is from 10 to 20 per cent, more than in the Grey. I would go so far as to say a salary of from £75 to £100 should be paid to the teachers of these small schools. 117. In the case of the Barrytown School, what is the average attendance ?—l2, and the salary P<ll 118. Under the suggested scale it would be £60 at a£s capitation grant?— Yes; but you could not get a certificated teacher to take a position like that. 119. Take the school at Totara Flat, what is the average attendance ?—2O. 120. What is the salary paid?—£l2o. , . ~; 0 , 121. Is that under your own scale?— Yes; the attendance has gone down considerably at that school. We have a teacher with aDI certificate. 122 In 1899 you paid only £100?— Yes, but the attendance was Only lb. 123 Under the suggested scale the salary would be £120?— Yes. We drew up a scale a tew years back, and we could only pay salaries in proportion to the money at our disposal. 124. The suggested scale is as liberal as your present scale, is it not ?—Yes. 125. What is the average attendance at the Granville School?— 39. 126. What is the salary ?—With the bonus the salary is brought up to> £133 17s. 127. Under the suggested scale there would be a considerable increase ?—Yes ; but that school is entitled to a male teacher. „, T 128. Have you not a male teacher there?—No; we have a male teacher at lotara Jjlat. 1 think it is unreasonable to expect a female teacher to take a school over 20 ; in that case there •should be a male. 129. What is the attendance at the Ahaura?—sß. 130. Have you looked at the suggested scale and noticed the effect it would have upon that 10 1317 Instead of the salary being £142 10s., what would it be ?—About £162 16s. 132. So that it would show a decided increase ?—Yes, an increase of £20. 133. Supposing the department gave a fixed salary of £75 to schools with an attendance of 15 and under 15 and left it entirely in the hands of the Board to establish the schools what would be the result?— The Board would have to give a bonus over and above that—for instance, you could not send a male teacher to Barrytown at a salary of £75 per year. 134 What do you think would be the result if the Boards were allowed to establish schools under 12 without any control as to the number?— The Boards would give a fair and reasonable salary if they had the money to do so. . 135 Do you think that the number of such schools throughout the colony would increase very largely when pressure would be brought' to bear by residents in different parts of the districts upon the Board to establish the small schools where they might be unnecessary ?—I do not think so. I think these schools should be established where there is an attendance oi sorb ° hl llo'. But do you not think there would be an unnecessary multiplication of these small schools, and unnecessary expenditure of money ?—I do not think so. . 137. Mr. Steivart.] You stated that the small schools were practically maintained at the expense of the teachers in the larger schools?— Yes. . . ... 138 You do not agree with the opinion expressed by the Chairman of the Board that it was not so?-I am giving you my opinion. The headmaster of the Grey School receives a salary of £250 ' with the bonus it amounts to £300 ; in any other part of New Zealand he would be getting a salary of £400, and the result is that the £100 he should be getting extra goes towards paying the teachers of these schools in outlying districts. The first and second assistants are also Und6 l39! d Have you many male pupil-teachers coming forward ?-No; the salaries paid are too Smal 140. Where do you get your male pupil-teachers from?-We do not get any; only about two or three graduated in our schools during the last seven years. 141 Have the bulk of your male teachers been in your employ long >. — Yes. 142 Then, in the Grey District the average age of the teachers is higher than in other districts'?— Yes ; some of our teachers should be retired. They have been under the Board so