G. D BRAIK.

47

1.—13 a.

44. So it does say that ?—Then that is all right. 45. Clause 50 : that is explained, is it not ? They are both to be February. Do you not think it desirable that the Committee should bring up its accounts and its report to the last moment to which it is convenient to have them audited ? —I do not see any benefit to be derived, because the school year really is from the beginning of February to the end of December. 46. I am speaking of the accounts of the Committee. Could they not in the last two months after that, while still in office, play " high jinks" with the money, if they were so disposed and had rendered their account for the year ? —February is a non-efficient month in the year so far as a school is concerned, and if you bring your business up to the end of December it seems to me that you have done all that is necessary. 47. Clause 51 : it does not say the schools shall not be established, but that if they are proposed to be estabilshed within five miles the matter can be referred to the Council. Is that not so ?—The point here is that we consider the distance—five miles —is too great. 48. It becomes an arguable question whether the school should be established or not ?— *Yes. 49. Should it not be within the power of some one —the Minister —to say, " I should like to consult the Council over this and see what the Council says about having schools as near as this" ? Would not that be reasonable ? It might be a school within three miles : it might be within a mile and a half of each ?—This appears to me to be a matter for local consideration, and if it is unreasonable the Department should simply say, No. 50. The Department has no power to decide whether a school shall be opened, has it ? The power is in the hands of the Board ?—I do not know whether the Department has power or not, but by negation it does not do it —by not moving. 51. The Board can get a room put up and establish a school without asking the Department, can it not ?—I admit that. 52. Then, clause 53 : what do you mean when you say that the Minister should supply stationery and other school requisites —do you mean free ? —Either free or bought, and distributed from the centre and supplied on the most reasonable possible terms. 53. You mean that the Minister should engage in trade —should buy at wholesale prices and sell to the Committees ?—lt is a proposal that is worth consideration, in any case. 54. It is done in Australia to some extent ?—Yes. 55. The Bill does not prevent that being done if it is found to be desirable ? —The Bill does not make provision for it. 56. Would it not be just as well if it were done through the Government Printer ? —Well, if it were done through any Department so as to cause the least possible expense and give the best possible material to every child in the country. 57. You remember a circular being sent out to the Boards saying that certain forms of exercise blocks and books could be brought from the Government Printer ? —I have no recollection of that. 58. Do you not think the Board should have a say when physical instruction should be given —that it should be open to the Boards to say which was the most convenient time ?—lt depends upon whether it is the usual routine or whether it is a matter of conflicting interests. If the Department of Physical Training wishes to go into a school at any time and give physical training it may be extremely awkward for the Board. 59. It would be, and therefore the Board ought still to have the power ?—Yes. 60. Does not the Bill leave it so ? —Yes, but the point is that it was redundancy to make provision seeing that it was already made. 61. But it leaves it in the power of the Board to arrange it in accordance with the regulations, so that both the Board and the Departmant should have a say in the matter. Is it not right that both should have a say ?—When one considers the expense of the two Departments, the Physical Training Department is really a separate organization. 62. Oh, no ? —That is to say, the instructors come from outside—we hardly know of their movements. We certainly get intimation, but it is just possible the instructors may come along and say, "We are going to take & series of schools," when the Inspectors were engaged on those schools. So far as that is concerned,l agree with the provision, but we thought that the Inspectors should say when the physical training should take place. 63. Is it not better to leave the Board a voice in the matter, which the Bill does ? —Yes, I think it is. 64. " Compulsory education with the school age raised to fifteen " : have you any reasons for saying that ? —Well, the tendency all round is to raise the age of exemption. 65. Do you think public opinion would support it being done, especially in the country districts where it is rather difficult for parents to do without the help of the boys and girls of fourteen years of age ?—Yes, it would be awkward in the country places, I admit. 66. Do you think the country is ripe for raising it in New Zealand to fifteen, taking into consideration the development and the conditions of the country ?—Yes, I think so ; but there is plenty of scope for children of average ability for getting free of the school, and this refers rather to backward children. 67. In regard to clause 57, do you not think the Board might want the advice of the Inspector as to whether a School Committee had not been too lax in giving exemptions ? —I do not think that is a detail that the Inspectors should be troubled with at all. 68. Should not the Board have power to cancel the certificate of exemption ? —Yes. 69. And should it do that without advice if it had been deliberately given ? —I think the Board could get sufficient advice without appealing to the Inspector. 70. Would you cut out the words " on the advice of the Senior Inspector " ?—Yes.