J. FISHER.]

65

1.—13 a.

(d.) The conditions for admission to a technical school should be as in subclause (2), clause 92, and not as set out in clause 93. The provisions of the Bill allow holders of Standard V certificates to enter a secondary school, but exclude them from a technical school. The holder of a Standard VI competency certificate should be admitted as a Free Place student to the domestic, agricultural, or trades courses in the technical school. Such students often show great ability in practical pursuits, though lacking in scholastic ability. (c.) Technical high schools should receive maintenance grants as defined, clause 95, subclause (2). At present there is no adequate provision for the maintenance and repair of technical buildings. (/.) Clause 108, subclause 3a : The controlling authority should have the power to appoint in any case three members and one-third of the total number of managers in excess of nine. This would reduce the representatives of Education Boards which might have too much power under the provisions of the Bill. One manager should be appointed by the parents of pupils of the technical high school and one by the parents of evening students under twenty-one years of age and students twenty-one years of age and over. Clause 108, subclause 8 : The powers of control and management of Boards and managers should be defined by the Act. (g.) Clause 111, subclause 1 : Maximum capitation should be 9d. as at present. All rates should be defined in a schedule attached to the Act and should be not less than those at present obtaining. Clause 111 :In technical high schools the payment should be based on the average attendance and not on the 800-hour basis. Capitation should be paid monthly on the basis of the earnings for the previous year, and adjusted at the end of the year. Under the Bill Boards are created and obligations placed upon them without provision being made for meeting the cost. (h.) All pupils applying for technical or continuation instruction should be admitted as Free Place students at evening classes so as to receive voluntarily what in some districts is imposed compulsorily (clause 120). ()'.) Clause 55 : That the limits in respect of subsidies, voluntary contributions, and bequests should be increased. Under old Act there is no limitation. {j.) That the scale of capitation to technical high schools be so adjusted as to allow Boards of managers to pay salaries at least equal to those given in secondary schools. 60. Mr. Hogben.] What do you mean by an 800-hour basis ?—At present the capitation is based <in the fact that a pupil must be in attendance 800 hours. If he attends 200 hours the Board receives one-fourth, if 400 hours the Board receives one-half, but if he attends 1,000 hours the Board receives nothing in excess of 800 hours. 61. What pupils are you referring to ?—I do not know that I can give an answer. I got the information from the Principal of the College. 62. If the technical schools became secondary schools they would have to teach Latin. You would be quite content provided they were compelled to take a general course—l only mention Latin as one subject ?—Pupils leave the primary school for the technical school, and it should be considered a secondary school. They go through an artisan course, and this would enable them to do that without reducing their status. 63. Show me any disadvantage they are placed at ?—No, I cannot. This probably is a point our Principal should have explained. 64. Holders of Fifth Standard certificates are not excluded from a technical school, are they ?— They are from a day technical school. 65. You know that if they enter a secondary school they have to pay ; they do not get a free place ?—Under clause 93 they are not allowed in technical schools even if they do pay. Subclause (2) of clause 92 says, " A school may admit other pupils who have obtained certificates of competency in the subjects of Standard Vor Standard VI of the public-school syllabus." Clause 93 says, "" Pupils who are the holders of certificates of competency in the subjects of Standard VI of the public-school syllabus may be admitted to the secondary department of a district high school or to a technical high school on the payment of such fees as may be prescribed." 66. You know that subclause (2) of clause 92 is only left in from the former Act ?—Why not put it in this, too ? 67. You would stretch it as far as certificates of Standard V ? —For this reason : should it be necessary that a higher standard of efficiency should be made compulsory for a technical high school than for a secondary school. 68. They would continue that general education so as to get a certificate of Standard VI ?—ln the majority of cases we find that they would be leaving school. The technical school gives a general instruction in arithmetic and English. We take evening pupils to qualify for Standard VI certificates. 69. Why do you want subclause (3) (a) of clause 108 altered ? How does that give too many representatives '. In many cases the Education Board has not got very much to do with the establishment of a technical school or college—it has been largely due to the efforts of others ; but according to the provisions of the Bill the Education Board would always have the preponderating influence. 70. But would it ? Supposing there were fifteen Managers, how many would the Board have ? —Three out of the first nine, and half afterwards. 71. That would be six out of fifteen ;is that a preponderating influence ? —No. 72.. They must be in a minority ?—That is so.

y—i. 13a.