<:. D. BRATK.

49

1.—13 a.

In regard to paragraph 11, what is your Board's impression of the necessity for the District Councils?- Well, the Board's impression of the District Council is that it is quite au unnecessary institution, and that the Board as constituted is perfectly well able to manage any matter of local control likely to be referred to it. 99. In the experience of your Board has any case arisen where it is necessary that there should be an investigation Council such as that proposed?— None at all. The only possible case where a Council like this might perhaps be useful would be in the case of appeal as a preliminary Court of investigation to bring the parties together and try to have an amicable arrangement made before going to the Appeal Court. That is the only case where a District Council would be of real sen ice. 100. As to clause 13, which refers to the change of the name " Wanganui," it is a small matter but are there institutions known all over the colony as Wanganui education institutions ?—lf the name of the Board is not known, certainly the most characteristic geographical feature is perfectly well known, and that is the Wanganui River. 101. What other high schools or colleges bearing that name? —There is the Wanganui Girls' College, the Wanganui Technical College, and the Wanganui Collegiate School. 102. As to clause 56, there is a definite recommendation that the school age should be raised to fifteen. Can you give the Committee any information as to whether that is the unanimous opinion of the Board or otherwise ?—lt has been the general expression of opinion of the Board, and at the Board meeting a resolution to that effect was adopted without dissent. 103. As to relieving teachers, is it not absolutely necessary in the experience of your Board that a definite arrangement ought to be made for the payment of relieving teachers and not through the chance expenditure of the Boards '. 1 might say that not only under the Wanganui Education Board but under the Southland Education Board we had continual trouble coming up about allowances for relieving teachers being insufficient. The result is that instead of getting men and women well qualified to fill temporary positions you simply have to take what you can get For instance, we want for a relieving teacher a man who can take a responsible position, hut we cannot afford to pay him. We got a man recently for £150. but the man would net stay for that when there were I etter opportunities at hand. 104. Does your Board find it necessary that a distinct position of relieving teacher should be made, and an arrangement made for his payment '. Yes, most certainly, because 1 say the schools suffer on account of the fad that we cannot pay a sulliciently qualified man to fill the position. 105. Mr. Malcolm.] Do I understand you to mean his salary should be quite independent of the position he is filling at the time ?- Tt should be of such a nature as not to attract a man to another position too readily. 106. Then probably you consider he would require to be paid a salary which would probably he in excess of the salary paid to the position he was temporarily filling ?—Well, to attract a suitable man, yes, because of the disabilities he has to undergo. There are many things he has to do which another teacher has not to do. He has often many discomforts that another teacher would not have to face. 107. Mr. Guthrie.] As you are a Director of Technical Education under the Wanganui Boaid. do you think that if the powers of the Board were transferred to any Committee or Technical Board that it would be conducive to technical education, or are you of opinion that the powers of the Board should be retained ?—Well, if the effective power of control is taken from the Board, of course the organization will break dowm. There is no doubt about that at all, unless there are conditions made to guard the Board's interests in the matter. 108. Would you approve of any proposal to remove the control of technical schools as at present governed and placing them under the High School Boards ?—Under Boards of Managers ? 109. Yes ? —I believe in local control and in control by the people, but it all depends upon the degree of control. If the effective control is to pass out of the hands of the Board into the hands of a Board of Managers exclusively, then I say it will be a very bad tiling for education in the Wanganui Education District. 110. With regard to model schools, do you think it is necessary in the interests of education that model schools shoukl he instituted and provision made for them ?—I think there ought to be a model school in eyery district outside the districts that have training colleges. It is a matter of vital importance to a district like Wanganui. We appointed an organizing Inspector to do tinwork that might be expected to be done in a model school. 111. Hon. Mr. Allen.] Need we delay over this, because the Bill provides for it ?—The point is that it does not provide the money. 112. Mr. Hogben.] Oh, yes ; see clause 75, subclause (9) ?- " The Board may pay such additional sums in the way of salary as may be prescribed." 113. That means by regulation ?—lt is a departmental salary apart from the Board's funds. 114. Yes. Then clause 6 provides that all the moneys required shall be provided for " (b) The payment to the Board of every district-—(i) of a sum sufficient to pay the salaries and allowances of teachers, pupil-teachers, and probationers in the district in accordance with this Act." The regulations are under the Act ?— Tf the Department provides the salary, then I say the Department is doing a handsome thing. 115. Mr. Guthrie.] Would you give the Committee the Wanganui Education Board's opinion upon the centralization of the'inspectorate ?—lt is an extremely difficult and delicate matter, because an official does not care to lay his mind hare altogether, but there are perhaps one or two views I might express. The Chairman : The Board has expressed its opinion in the written statement. 116. Mr. Gidhrie.] You do not wish in any way to amplify that, do you ?—Not unless a member of the Committee wishes me to do so.

7—T. 1«a.