E. K.^MULGAN.J

3

1.—13 a.

registration of private schools. The machinery is in the Act for compelling all children of a certain age to attend school, but there has been a good deal of trouble in this matter. I have in my mind a school in Dominion Road, Auckland, that had existed for quite a long time before we knew anything about it. As soon as we found out about it we sent the Truant Officer to inquire why the school had not applied for exempt ion. The Inspector, on visiting the school, was dissatisfied and ordered the children of school age to attend a primary school. Such schools should be compelled to come out into the open and register. Might I refer to a matter I overlooked, the question of representation on the controlling body of technical classes, outlined in clause 108? Subclause 3 (a) deals with the representation of Education Boards, and the powers of Managers controlling technical schools. If I interpret the clause correctly the Board of Education has the right to appoint three members, and then it would be entitled to one-half the number of members beyond nine. Supposing we had a Council consisting of twenty-five members : taking nine from twenty-five will leave sixteen. Well, the Education Board will be entitled to eight members, plus three, or eleven out of twenty-five. We think that rather large in tact, that the representation of the Board on the management is excessive. ."). Hon. Mr. Allen.] You want that reduced? —I think so. 6. With regard to the division of the district: do I understand that your arguments in the main are for the purpose of inducing the Committee to still further reduce the Education Board districts from nine to five ! —I did not go into that matter, but personally I think it should be done. 7. Do you recollect what the recommendation of the Education Committee was last year in regard to the size of the Education Board districts?— Yes. 8. It does not come, then, as a surprise to your Board that eight or nine should be suggested? —I cannot say that I have heard any surprise expressed. 9. Mr. Purdie is surprised, and so he says is your Board? —Mr. l'urdie may know, but I do not. He was surprised at any thought of dividing the Auckland District. 10. Assuming that this Committee sticks to its conclusions of last year to reduce the number of Hoards from thirteen i" eight or nine, does the Auckland Board still maintain that it ought to be left alone and undivided?— Yes. 11. I wish to ask the Auckland Board whether they are by doing that sympathizing with those other Boards in New Zealand whose districts are so small that their teachers cannot get a career?— It is hardly for me to answer for the Board, but I should think they are. I am thinking of a district like Westland. 12. We will talk about the North Island. If the Committee determines to reduce the Boards from thirteen to nine with the object of giving a career to teachers in other districts would not the Auckland Board be prepared to make some little sacrifice to assist their brother Boards?—Oh, yes; the Auckland Board would not object if some of the schools, or it portion of the district at the southern end, were taken away. That portion which lies towards the Taranaki District, and which could be administered from Taranaki - -we expect to lose that portion in time as soon as railway connection links the two districts up. 13. Then probably you do not object to a part of the Auckland District being cut off, as it is a matter of boundary?— The boundary is a very important matter. 14. Do you suggest that the present boundary would not offer a satisfactory career to certain teachers in the Auckland District, ami who would Ik- put in the proposed new Waikato District because there are not sufficiently big schools there?— That is one of the objections. 15. Do you suggest that one of the representatives on the Council should be there in the interests of agriculture?— Yes. Hi. It is already provided for in clause 8. With regard to .the representation of Inspectors on the Council, are you not aware that it is proposed under the Bill that the Inspectors shall be taken over by the Department?— Yes. 17. Do you not think that under subclause (c) of clause 8 there is every probability that an Inspector would be appointed on the Council? —Yes, but we have no assurance to that effect, and their presence on the Council is so important that we think it necessary to emphasize the point. 18. Do you not think that the Minister would also think it important, and that if he had the power to make the appointment that he would probably do so? —I think be would; but we thought it as well to bring this matter under the notice of the Committee. If it is contemplated to appoint, under the subclause quoted, Inspectors actually at work in the schools, we have nothing further to say. II). I will not pledge myself to do it, but the power is there for the Minister to use, and no doubt he would consider it. About the representation of those interested in technical schools: do you think it would be quite fair to put on the Board a representative of the technical-school teachers alone? —That is another very important matter. Technical education is making a good deal of progress here, and there should not be the possibility of a practical representative of technical education being left off that Council. 20. Under subclause (/) of clause 8 there is power to elect one member to the Council by the male teachers of secondary and technical schools: do you not think that is a sufficiently wideenough electorate to appoint one member of the Council?—l think I pointed out that the number of electors, as far as the secondary schools were concerned, was very much more than the number of electors connected with the technical schools, and therefore there would be no certainty that technical education would be represented on the Council; but the certainty is rather in the direction of the secondary people having a representative. 21. You have got to remember the great distinction between the two branches of education?— Yes and no; there is undoubtedly a difference; but they are rightly recognized as being on the same plane, and are included in the term " secondary." The interests are somewhat different, ami each should be represented.