3

E.—lo

Mr. kitohie, Air. Uraik, Professor Gilray, Professor Haslam, Mr. Holmes, Professor Thomas, Mr. Hughes, Professor Kirk, and Mr. J. Harkness continued the discussion. Mr. Strachau moved, That a ooinmittee of eight—one from each section of the Conference, with the Inspector-General as chairman ex officio —be appointed to go into the question of subjects suitable for a primary-school system, and the length of time to be devoted to each subject, and that the following gentlemen constitute the committee —Professor Thomas, Air. Alexander, Professor White, Mr. Bevan-Brown, Mr. George, Mr. J. 11. Harkness, Mr. Petric, and the Inspector-General of Schools; that the committee be given twelve months to report, and that they be instructed to obtain information from all the countries in the world that are advanced in educational matters. The motion was seconded by Mr. (i. A. Harkness, but was withdrawn in the meantime, and the discussion on the general question was resumed by Air. de Berry and Mr. George. On the motion of Air. Cousins the discussion was adjourned till '2.'SO p.m. The Conference resumed at 2.00 p.m. Mr. Cousins moved, That in the opinion of this Conference the syllabus of work for primary school is based on sound principles, and is generally well adapted to the needs of our pupils.— Seconded by Mr. Hughes, and carried. The discussion on the work of the primary schools was continued by Mr. Bevan-Brown, Mr. Firth, Mr. Howell, Mr. Hunter, Aliss Marchant, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Goyen, Mr. Watkins, Mr. Milnes, Miss McLean, and Dr. Anderson. All-. Strachan's motion, which had been temporarily withdrawn in the morning, was then put, and negatived on the voices. The Chairman then announced the next subject for discussion, "The relation of primary schools to secondary and technical education." On this subject the following members of the Conference spoke: Air. Bevan-Brown, All , . Gray, Mr. Braik, Air. Goyen, Mr. J. Harkness, Mr. Firth, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Howell, Mr. Vernon, Mr. George, Air. Hill, Air. Cousins, and Mr. Marshall. On the motion of Air. Marshall the discussion was adjourned till 10 a.m. on Friday. FIiIDAY, 11th FIiBKUAItY, I'JlO. The Conference resumed at JO a.m. The minutes were read and confirmed. The discussion on the question of "The relation of primary schools to secondary and technical education " was resumed. Mr. Marshall moved, That this Conference, while strongly urging the retention of the proficiency examination as one of the means of enabling pupils to qualify for free places in secondare schools, considers that before the pupil is allowed to enter on a free place in a secondary school the parent or guardian should be compelled to give an undertaking that such pupil will remain a fixed slated minimum period at the secondary school. —Seconded by Air. Morton. Mr. Gray moved as an amendment, That the avenue to secondary education should be quite free and unrestricted, eligibility therefor to be dependent upon one primary-school leavitig-certifi-cate awarded on the joint representation of the headmaster and an Inspector of Schools. — Seconded by Mr. Vernon. On the amendment the Conference divided.—Ayes, •">((; noes, 14. The amendment was then put as a substantive motion, and oarried on the voices. Mr. Gray moved, That the kind of secondary education to be attended by any one holding a primary-school leaving-certiticate be determined by (I ) the aptitude and capacity discovered during the last three years of the primary-school course; (2) by the indication of the parent regarding the time—one, two, three, or lour years (luring which the child may attend a secondary institution.— Seconded by Mr. Firth. The Conference divided. Ayes. 2-' i ; noes, 18. —Motion carried. Mr. Gray moved, That the education of every child should be continued at least up to the age of seventeen years. —Seconded by Mr. Hill. All , . Gray temporarily withdrew his motion, and Professor Ilaslam was given leave to move. That the pupil Ije not admitted to the secondary be] 1 unless the parent guarantee that the child shall stay at the secondary school for three years, and deposit the sum of £ —, which shall be forfeited in" ease the guarantee is broken. —Seconded by Mr. Hevan-Krown. Mr. Marshall moved as an amendment. That all the wurds after the weirds "three years" be omitted.—The amendment was seconded by Mr. Howell, and carried on the voices. The motion as amended was then put. and negatived on the voices. Mis.s Craig and Miss Birse then spoke with reference to infant-school work. Mi-. Gray moved the adjournment of the debate, and the Conference adjourned till 2..'i(J p.m. The Conference resumed at 2.30 p.m. Mr. <!rav moved. Thai the education of every child should be continued up to the age of seveilteen. Seconded by Mr. Hill. Mr. George moved. That before the word "That" the following words Ik; inserted: "That the age of exemption be raised lo fifteen years."—Seconded by Mr. Braik. ():i the amendment the Conference divided.--Ayes, 28; noes, 19.—Amendment agreed to. Mr. CvorLre then moved as a further amendment. That all the words after "fifteen years" be omitted, and the following be inserted : " and that beyond that age it in desirable that all boys