E.—l4

110

113. The introduction of the colonial scale would, I apprehend, entail a good deal of work in the preparation of quarterly returns, and so forth ?—There would be quarterly returns of the staffs to the department. 114. What do you say to that?—l have nothing to say to that. 115. It would naturally increase the departmental expenses in the office?— Yes. The departmental expenses on this statement are lower than they will probably be next year. 116. Do you approve of the reduction of £10 from the teacher's salary in order to pay the sewing-mistress ?—No, I do not think it is sound in principle. 117. What are your views in regard to the amount of house allowance to teachers who have not residences ?—This scale deals with that point, but with no finality. It is left in abeyance. 118. What do you think would be a fair amount for rent allowance to teachers? —Under the Board's regulations it depends upon the size of the school. The teacher of a very small country school gets £12. 119. That is regarded to be enough ?—Evidently so. 120. Speaking generally upon this scale in regard to incidental allowances, what effect will it have on the position in North Canterbury if the incidental allowances are not increased ?—Under the proposed scale there will be a deficiency of over £2,000. If that were left so, I fancy a great number of the Committees would refuse to take office in this district, because the Board would have to make such a great reduction in the incidental allowances. 121. There has already been considerable trouble in some districts in that way? —Yes. 122. What is your opinion in regard to the suggestions as to pupil-teachers in this scale?— The number of pupil-teachers under the proposed scale is very much the same as the present number. If anything, it is slightly increased. 123. What is your opinion in regard to the payment of pupil-teachers, more especially in the fifth year ?—I think the provision for making a reduction from the fourth year's salary to that of the third year, if the pupil-teacher is kept on for another year, is unsound. 124. Why ?—A pupil-teacher after four years' service would naturally object to receive thirdyear pay if asked to continue in that school. 125. Is the payment to pupil-teachers, in your opinion, sufficient?—l think it should be increased. 126. To what extent?—lf the funds are available, I think the department's proposals under that head are very good. 127. If the pupil-teachers' pay is increased, should the pay of the training students be increased?— Yes, it would naturally mean an increase in that direction. For this year it would mean an additional expenditure of £410. 128. Mr. Hill] I see you receive £300 for the training of teachers ?—This year we receive £500. 129. It costs you £1,847 15s. 10d., so that you lost last year over £1,300 ?—Yes. 130. And it cost you £1,635 for inspection and travelling-allowances, and you received £500, making another loss of £1,135 ?—Yes. 131. So that on these two items you lost about £2,400? —Yes. 132. Mr. Hogben.] lam not quite clear in regard to the general expenses of your Board. In the allowances to School Committees under the head of incidental expenses there are included repairs : out of what fund is this expenditure on repairs met ?—Out of the Maintenance Account, as far as they are done by Committees. 133. They are repairs to buildings and furniture and premises ?—Small repairs. 134. But they are repairs ?—Yes. 135. In the return 1 asked for just now I want these excluded?—l am afraid it would be almost impracticable. It would be necessary to go through all the Committees' balance-sheets, and even then I think the figures could not be got, for they lump the items very much. I do not think many of the Committees spend much on small repairs, for the Board have great difficulty with them, and in the long-run the Board have to find the money substantially for repairs. 136. The Committees do not carry out the regulations ?—The Board has great difficulty in getting them to carry that one out, and has to come to their assistance out of the Building Account. 137. You do not think the amount actually expended on these items is very much ?—I should have to go through all the balance-sheets to give you a reliable estimate; but, seeing that there are 170 Committees, I should say that probably quite £500 of that incidental grant goes on repairs. 138. Do you think that those could be legally taken out of the building grant ? —I am not quite sure. Some years ago the Board were in correspondence with the department over this matter, and the department ruled that the building grant must be used for building. 139. And repairs ?—I do not think I am wrong in saying that the matter of repairs was objected to by the department some years ago. I think it was first of all objected to, but lam not sure on that point. 140. In regard to the evil of overstaffing, would not the payment of salaries on the average attendance for a longer period than one quarter—say, for a year —obviate the evil ? —No, the danger would still be there. 141. You spoke of the effort of the Committee to bring up the attendance for one quarter ; but if the staffing was based on a long period, do you not think it would reduce the evil of overstaffing ? —-This Board has always made it a rule to wait for two consecutive quarters before granting an extra teacher, but still the overstaffing remains. 142. It would be more difficult to get up the average for four quarters?— Yes. 143. And you could guard against extreme cases of sudden rise and fall by the transference of teachers ?—Under the present system it would be very difficult indeed to introduce any system of transferring teachers.