E. E. BECKETT.]

149

G.— 5.

86. As boarders?— Yes. No inquiry is made—at least, I have never heard of it; they must, however, attend school services. 87. What is the cost of a boarder at the school?-—1 had a boy there for six years. My accounts for the term used to come to between £27 and £30, but there were some extras. I should say that £85 a year would be about the ordinary cost. Perhaps you might reduce it by £10 without extras. Music costs between £2 and £3 a term. About £75 would be the cost of sending a boy to the school. The admission or rejection of a boy is entirely in Mr. Empson's hands, but I should think the parents would have the right of appeal to the trustees if a particular boy was refused. There has beeii no appeal in my time. 88. Is this school open to all races? —Yes. 89. Is any register kept of all boys' applications, showing those accepted and those rejected? --I am not aware of it, but I should think Mr. Empson would keep it, The trustees have received reports from Mr. Empson that he has been obliged to refuse boys because of want of accommodation . 90. Do you take in the children of poor and. destitute persons who are unable to pay the fees? -—There are children attending the school whose fees have been remitted. The aim of the trustees is to put the school on such a footing that the whole amount of revenue from the trust will be available for poor children. 91. Supposing a parent took a boy to the school who was otherwise quite fit to be admitted, but he could not afford to pay the fees for his admission, would that boy be received to-day?—lf the funds were available he would be. It is the object of the trustees —as far as lam concerned, and I think the other trustees also—to endeavour to use the whole of the money from the trust for that purpose, the fees at present being paid by boys who can afford it being quite sufficient to maintain the school. The expenses of building have been so great that they have practically taken all the revenue. 92. Is religious education given at the school? —Yes. 93. What religious education?— The ordinary religious education of the Church of England. It is conducted on Church of England principles. 94. What industrial training is given?—lnstruction in carpentering and chemistry is given. 95. Do the trustees exercise any controlling-power over the curriculum ?—No. 96. Do they leave it entirely to Mr. Empson?—l should think that would be a matter entirely for the trustees, with the assistance of Mr. Empson. Since I have been a member of the trust there has been no suggestion of an alteration of the system. 97. Mr. Empson receives all the boarding-fees?— Yes, but we are contemplating as far as we can reorganizing the trust in that direction. 98. Does he nominate the teachers? —Yes. 99. Have the trustees anything to do with that? —The trustees have to approve the appointments. 100. Have you the power of veto? —Yes. 101. Have the trustees received any complaints with regard to the teaching?— Not since I have been a member. 102. Have any complaints been received with reference to the sanitary condition of the buildings?—No formal complaints. We have considerably altered the buildings. Between £1,500 and £1,600 has been expended on the buildings during the last two or three years. 103. What is the position with reference to Shield's house at present occupied by Mr. Watson? Is that let under lease, the agreement being that Mr. Empson pays Is. a year—a peppercorn rental —as long as he is headmaster? —les. 104. He built that house? —Yes. 105. Does the trust owe him for that? —I am not aware of it; but I think if he retired they should pay him for it. 106. That depends upon the terms of the lease? —I have never seen the lease. It was before my time. 107. Have you ever studied the Bills introduced by Mr. Ballance and Mr. Bryce?—l have not. 108. I suppose you admit something ought to be done to put the trust on a better footing? -I think undoubtedly it wouid be necessary to put a Bill through the House to obtain borrowingpowers to enable the trustees to do necessary work in connection with putting the sections on the market. It is impossible to do it with the revenue derived at present from the estate. 109. Do you think the present system of appointing trustees who reside in Wellington and at a distance is satisfactory?—Of course, I think, myself, there should be another trustee in Wanganui. I think it is the intention of the Synod to appoint another in Wanganui. I think that at the present time, at any rate; we have a number of trustees who will compare very favourably with any elected body you could get. That is my experience, and I have had many years' experience on public bodies. ' I am at present Chairman of the Rangitikei County Council. 110. Do you think the trustees in the past have been as active as they might have been in bringing this property into use? —One does not like to say anything about those who went before in a similar capacity. I have been resident in this district for thirty years, and I know that at least during twenty years of that time Wanganui was practically at a standstill. It is only in the last ten years that there has been any "go" in Wanganui. Since then I think perhaps a more active method might have been pursued; but I do not think that during the last two years we could have been more active considering the means at our disposal. 111. Do you think the trustees would object to the accounts being audited by a Government auditor? —I think we should welcome it. I should. 112. And have their accounts laid before Parliament every session, and published?—l see no possible objection to it.