H. A. PARKINSON.]

1.—13 a.

169. Mr. Sidey.] You stated that there was just one resolution that was not carried with unanimity : did that remark apply to the franchise ?—No ; it applied to the resolution regarding the power of Committees to recommend dismissal. 170. Are we to understand that the Institute was almost unanimous in recommending that the franchise should be altered on which the Boards are elected ?—Yes, practically so. Speaking from memory I do not think there was a division on it. 171. Do you think it is desirable that one portion of the Board should be elected on one franchise and one on another ?—I cannot say that I see any objection to it; in fact, we are asking that one other franchise be instituted. You will notice a paragraph where we ask that one representative be elected by the teachers to each Board. 172. You recognize that under the Bill there is no intention to alter the franchise upon whic! Board is elected unless School Committees are amalgamated, when the present system would not be applicable ?—That is so. I take it that the provision is intended to meet a request for a wider franchise for Boards, and that it has been done as far as it could be done at reasonable cost. 173. Is not this the reason for the alteration proposed in the Bill : several school districts are amalgamated ; there will only be one Committee to elect in that district; there will only be one perhaps where there is a very large number of schools ; so the object is not necessarily to widen the basis of the franchise upon which the Boards are elected at present, but to meet a difficulty which will arise if school districts are amalgamated : is not that the reason for it ?—lt did not appeal to me in that way. 174. Do you not think that while the existing system continues—while the system of Boards and Committees continues as at present—it is desirable to have the Boards and the Committees brought into touch with one another by a system of election such as we have at present ? —I have not any very decided opinion on the matter. It is too big a question. 175. Would you say that the Institute has not considered it very carefully ?—Yes. 176. Mr. Hogben.] Is your suggestion with regard to the powers of municipal authorities an extension of section 303 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908 [Act shown to witnessj ?—Yes. 177. You wish that to extend to primary schools ?—Yes. »

Albert Erskine examined. (No. 37.) 1. The Cliairman.] What are you? —I am president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, and first assistant at the Terrace School, Wellington. 2. Are you speaking on behalf of the Institute ?—Yes. We desire to place before the Committee a number of resolutions dealing with the Bill from beginning to end. I might say that these resolutions are the outcome of meetings of the District Institutes, and also of a special meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute held about a fortnight ago, and they may be taken as the actual opinions of the great bulk of the teachers of the Dominion. We are really speaking for the whole service. Mr. Parkinson will deal with all the subjects with the exception of salaries, which matter I shall refer to. The resolutions are as follows :— Education Bill, 1914. — Notes of Representations made to the Education Committee of the House of Representatives by the Executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute. Council of Education. —The Institute welcomes the proposal to set up a Council of Education with the measure of administrative powers bestowed upon the Council, and hopes that experience of its working will warrant its being entrusted with the general administration of the education system. Inspectors. —In the opinion of the Institute the Inspectors, who are actually in touch with the inspection and examination of the schools, should be directly represented on the General Council of Education, and to secure this representation clause (c) should be altered to read, " One other officer of the Education Department, who shall be an Inspector, shall be appointed by the Minister." Casual Vacancies. —The Institute recommends that all casual vacancies be filled by the electing bodies. District Councils. —The Institute endorses the proposal to establish District Councils, but requests that the member who represents the primary teachers on the District Council be appointed by the District Institute. Education Boards. —The Institute urges most strongly on the Minister that there should be not more than five, but preferably only four, education districts. Franchise. —The Institute strongly urgqs that in urban areas as well as in urban districts the members of Education Boards be elected on the municipal franchise, and that as early as possible some wider franchise than at present in force be introduced in rural areas. In addition to the members already designated, one member should be elected by the certificated teachers within the district. School Libraries. —The Institute notes with pleasure the provision for affording assistance to school libraries. Removal Expenses of Teachers. —The Institute requests that the words " removal expenses of teachers " be added to clause (c) of section 34 of the Bill. Appointments. —Pending the establishment of a Dominion scheme of grading and appointment of teachers, in no case shall the name of more than one teacher be submitted to a School Committee for consideration. The Institute urges that all appointments of teachers be made from a Dominion graded list, to be drawn up on the basis of efficiency and service, and supplied to Boards for the purpose of determining appointments. The Institute further suggests that the following be added

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