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344. Do you consider that the amount which has been paid by the Westland Board is too low ?—Yes; I prefer the suggested scale. 345. Do you favour the appointment of members of the family in the household schools?—ln this district that is very often the only way in which we are able to secure a teacher. If it is objected to at all it should be forbidden absolutely. 346. Do you favour the Inspectors being placed under the control of the central department ? —Yes. 347. Are you in favour of a superannuation scheme or retiring-allowance for teachers ?—Yes. 348. Do you consider that it would be an advantage if the Grey and Westland Districts were amalgamated and one Inspector appointed for the districts ?—I think it would be an advantage to have amalgamation. 349. Do you consider it is advisable to differentiate the syllabus-work required in small country schools to town schools ? —ln the very small schools, yes. 350. Mr. Hogben.] Could you furnish the Commission with a statement showing the expenditure of the Westland Board for the years 1898, 1899, and 1900, exclusive of teachers' salaries and allowances, &c. ? —Yes ; I have already prepared a statement, and now place it before the Commission [Exhibit 23]. 351. Beferring to the Hokitika and Kumara Schools, was not the Kumara School some time ago a District High School ?—Yes. 352. Hokitika is the only District High School at the present time ?—Yes. 353. Do you know the circular dealing with grants to district high schools ?—Yes. 354. Would the capitation grant given in the circular do away with the difficulty in regard to the school ?—Yes ; it would enable the Board in that particular school to make up the deficiency in the salary of the assistant master. 355. What would be the capitation payable to your Board at £4 on 1,139? —£4,556. 356. What would be the amount payable to your Board for salaries under this proposed scale, as shown in the return [Exhibit 24] already handed in ?—£4,384. 357. That would leave a balance for expenses of £172 if the £4 capitation grant were given ? -Yes. 358. Do you think that sum would be enough to meet the expenses of the Board, exclusive of salaries —to pay for inspection, &c. ?—Certainly not. 359. Would it be possible for the Board, if it received capitation at £4 a head, to pay salaries according to the proposed scale, and carry on its office-work ?—No, it would not. 360. You say you consider the highest minimum certificate for a male teacher CI ?—Yes. 361. Were you referring to a male head teacher? —Yes, of a primary school. 362. And in the case of a female you say a Dl ?—Yes. 363. Would that answer apply to separate boys' and girls' schools, as, say, in Wellington ? If you had a girls' school of 400 pupils, would you require a lower certificate from the headmistress than you would require from the headmaster of a boys' school of an equivalent number —i.e., 400?— Yes, I think so. 364. Why ? —Because there is a greater supply of higher grades among the males than among the females, though many of the headmasters of large schools in the colony at the present time have only Dl. 365. Why would you not put the masters at Dl as well as the mistresses ? —Because there are more masters with higher certificates than females. I think it is easier for them to secure higher certificates. 366. Putting aside the question of salaries altogether, what is the ideal maximum number of pupils for one teacher with all the standards ? —I think, about 30. 367. Taking every consideration into account, do you not think there is a natural limit to the number a teacher can teach effectively, however clever he may be ? —lt is very hard to say. Ido not think any teacher should have more than 40 pupils with all standards, no matter how efficient that teacher may be. 368. Am I right in thinking that your reason for saying so is because a great deal depends on a child's power of receiving instruction, as well as on a teacher's capacity for imparting it?— Yes ; and the necessity for the individual training of the children in our schools. 369. Is it not true that by increasing the number of pupils to a teacher you alter the character of the instruction given to the pupil, making it more of a mechanical kind?— Yes. 370. Mr. Stewart.] In relation to the staffing of these household schools, are you in favour of absolutely prohibiting the teaching of such schools by relatives of the family, such power to prohibit being given to the central department?—l would not go so far as that. Where it can be avoided there is no doubt it should be. 371. If you had a scale with a minimum rate of pay, would it not be practicable?— Yes. 372. In theory you are opposed to such a practice, but in certain cases you feel bound to modify your opinion?— Yes. 373. The Chairman.] Do you think it matters very much whether a member of the family teaches in those schools, or an outsider, so long as the results are satisfactory ?—Good work is obtained from the teachers who are relatives or members of the family; but the objection is outside of the question of ability to teach. My experience is that the average work is good in those schools. 374. With reference to some of the large schools, do you think the difference between headmasters' work and the work of first assistants is so great that there should be the present huge difference in salary? —I think it is a question of degree. I certainly think that headmasters should be paid more on account of the responsibility of the work in connection with large schools, and the training of junior teachers.