1.—13 a.

74

[Or. L. STEWAKT.

appointed by the Minister; that one man and one woman each should respectively represent men and women teachers primary, and one each secondary and technical school teachers; that attention be drawn to the absence of representatives of technical and secondary school managers and of Inspectors. Casual vacancies should be filled by the appointing bodies. "4. District Councils: As a result of careful study of section 11 the Board is of opinion that the creation of District. Councils is unnecessary, as the duties it is sought to impose on them can be performed with at least equal efficiency by existing administrative machinery, and at considerable saving in expense. , "5. Number of Boards (clause 13): (a.) The Board expresses approval of the proposed reduction in the number of Boards. (6.) The interests of the present Boards' staffs should be safeguarded. "6. Urban school districts and municipal franchise: (a.) It disapproves of the creation of urban school districts as tending to reduce efficiency, and of the alternative and more costly system proposed of voting on the municipal franchise, seeing the present system is efficient, satisfactory, and inexpensive, (b.) The many duties imposed on voters in relation to the simultaneous election of Mayor, Councillors. Harbour Board, Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, School Committees, and Boards would certainly be less satisfactory than the present method, (c.) The Board draws attention to the powers of direct action in relation to secondary and technical education under clauses 84 (2) and 105 (2). "7. Appointment of teachers; staffing and salaries: (a.) Clause 67 (3): While as a general policy approving of the proposal that an assistant in a school should not be appointed headmaster of that school, it appears to the Board that this clause in the Act would restrict the Board more than is advisable, and the same opinion is expressed regarding the advertisement of positions. (b.) Clause 67 (4) : lhat an allowance be made- to enable the Board to pay removal expenses of teachers transferred at the instance of the Board. In this connection attention is drawn to the practice obtaining in the Civil Service, (c.) That as nearly as possible the salaries of entrants to the teaching profession be brought into line with those of entrants to the Civil Service. (d.) Relicving-allowance: That the Board's relieving-allowance should be increased in order to enable it to deal adequately with the question of payment of relieving teachers' salaries. (c.) Model schools: Proposals are approved. (/.) Salaries of Inspectors: That in connection with the salaries of Inspectors the line of the Twelfth Schedule dealing with Assistant Inspectors be deleted, and that no Inspector should receive salary lower than that received by the headmaster of any school inspected, (g.) Termination of engagement (clause 78 (1) ): It is suggested that the notice should be two months on either side. "8. Inspection (clauses 127-133) : (a.) Control of Inspectors : (i) Believing that the efficiency of public schools depends greatly on the intimate and local knowledge of the schools and their teachers acquired by the Inspectors appointed by the Boards, it considers the removal of the Inspectors from the control of the Boards and placing them under a central body would be most unwise, (ii) The inspection of schools, whether secondary or technical, can, it' thinks, be advantageously and economically carried out by the present Education Boards, (b.) Registered schools (clause 129 (3)): The Board is of opinion that registration of schools should be compulsory. but that no school should be classed as efficient which does not comply with reasonable requirements in regard to class-room and sanitary accommodation and to playground area. " 9. Technical schools; controlling authorities : It is suggested that the relation of controlling authorities and technical Managers should be defined by statute." 1. Mr. Hogben.] In clause 6 (c) of the memorandum you have read. "The Board draws attention to the powers of direct action in relation to secondary and technical education." Does not clause 84 of the Bill require the advice of the Council?— Yes, I think it does, but it empowers a Committee of the education district to submit such a proposal without any consultation with the Board of the district. 2. It makes the proposal to the Minister, to be brought before the Council ?—Yes. 3. You know the cases where there is overlapping—say, the Christchurch West District High School—when there are at the same time five other places at which secondary education can be got in Christchurch? Do you know that that was done on the application of the Board?—No, I was not aware of that. 4. Do you think it is likely that the Board would apply for any change in regard to that school? Though there may be overlapping, might not overlapping: go on till the end of time?— Of course, my Board was considering the circumstances of this district, in this matter. It considers that any change in relation to the schools within the district should have the approval of the Board before going on. 5. Do you think that the North Canterbury Board would approve of the disestablishment of a school, if it was necessary, for the establishment of which it had applied?—l can hardly answer for the North Canterbury Board. 6. The matter has got to come before the Council, has it not?— That is so. 7. With regard to technical education, clause 105 (2) is referred to. T think: "Any controlling authority and any urban School Committee," &c. You know what the present Act does in regard to that—the establishment of technical schools?— The suggestion of rrrv Board is that while it is the controlling authority in relation to technical education all proposals in connection with technical education should be presented to the Board first. 8. Is that the case now under section 179 (1), paragraph (c), of the Act ?—Yes, that is so. 9. The Bill limits the power of the local Committee, because it only gives the power to urban school districts, whereas every School Committee lias it now : is not that the case?— Yes, that is so. 10. The Board wants to limit it still further: is that sol —Why should not the Committee make its proposal through the Board of the district?