HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 15 October 1914, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In reply to Mr Myers> Hon. J. Allen said that Mr C. H. Schofield had been appointed to act as war correspondent at the front for the whole of the Press of the Dominion. He hoped there would bo no "disposition to regard the appointment from a party point of view, as Mr Schofield .was to act in the interests of all newspapers alike.

Sir Joseph Ward said he did not wish to approach the matter from a party point of view, .but there was a grave doubt as to what. Mr SchofieM was going to do, and by whom he was going to be paid. He suggested that the Premier should cable Home for information as to what the position was! They all knew what had happened in connection with Samba, and he did not want that sort of thing to occur again.

The Premier said he "would cable Home for further information regarding Mr -Schofield's position. '

In reply to Mr Campbell, Hon. W. Fraser stated that" he was making provision to relieve unemployment in Hawke's Bay.

Ten days' extension of time was given to the Shipping and Freight Commission to report.

! Hon. J. Allen, upon the motion to go into committee upon the Education Bill, said he did not propose to go into more /details regarding the Bill than necessary. District councils were established for the purpose of advising the Minister, upon local matters. The setting ■ up of the education council marked an important stage in educational legislation. The centralisation of inspectors was proposed, with a definite object. Inspectors would still remain advisers to boards, but there was a certain amount of overlapping, and centralisation would enable the Government to supply inspectors where required. He pointed particularly to clause 157, which uro- ; vides that each year the inspectors should gazette a list of all teachers classified and graded. He saw no 1 eason why this system of classification and grading should not in time become complete. It would be a simple thing for the inspectors to pick out from the top of the lists teachers qualified for progressive employment. He hoped also, that classification of teachers would enable them to be appointed by any board in New Zealand, thus cutting out the narrowing policy new prevailing. The Education Committee had decided not to fix the boundaries of the education board districts,, but to leave the matter to a Commission. He hoped the House would help him to increase the ssze of these district;. Continuing, Mr .Mien said he believed the time would ocme when New Zealand would be divided up into four education districts. Members 'had something mor» to do than to look ' after local interests. They had the-gene-ral education scheme of New Zealand to consider. Greater opportunities would .be given to teachers under the provisions.of the Bill than.any mere increase of pay. He outlined the schedule of grading, which showed that substantial increases in salaries were proposed in all grades. It was also proposed to grade inspectors' salaries in districts where there was a large number of small schools. A larger amount of money would be provided to carry on school committee work. Better'provision would be made for payment of j teachers in back blocks. There was some difficulty in arranging to pay married teachers the expenses of transfers. He felt it was rather hard that a head teacher should have a house allow-; ance, and a married: assistant get ] northing.- He intended to ask the House to agree to an amendment in the direction of paying increased salaries to married assistants; at the' rate of £20 per annum. The proposals would mean an increase of £ll,ood per annum. Dealing with the question of equal pay for equal work between men and women, he said they could not judge payment by the work of the day. They had to' take it as a life's work. Women left the service very much earlier than men to enter upon more important work as wives and mothers, and he wanted male teachers to be in a position to keep their wives and families at least indecency. The cost of increased salaries would be £100,000 per annum. When the present Bill came into operation the cost of education will be £873,000. He saw no reason why the increases should not come into operation in "January, 1915. In conclusion, he paid a warm tribute to the work of the Inspector-General of Schools.

Mr Poland, while approving generally of the Bill, strongly objected to the establishment of district councils and the reduction of education districts. The Bill shelved the responsibility for the reduction of educational districts on to a Commission, which was not satisfactory. The House should decide the matter itself. :

Mr Guthrie deplored the steps taken in the direction of centralisation of the administration of education, saying the abolition, of board districts would sap local enthusiasm, reduce the prospect of promotion for.teachers, and generally operate against the furtherance of the cause of education.

Mr McCallum held the opinion that money spent upon education was better spent than all the money expended upon roads and bridges. Mr Sidey congratulated the Minister upon making provision for the 'centralisation of the inspectorate and increased salaries.

Mr G. M. Thomson said the great majority of the teaching profession was satisfied with the Bill. The substantial increases showed the earnestness of the Minister to better the condition of the teachers. He held that the day was not far away when further increases should be made. They should place the teaching profession in such a position that it would attract .the brightest of the youth of the Dominion.

Sir Joseph Ward said the Bill had been considerably improved by the Committee, but 1 he was of opinion that teachers tost© not :going to benefit as largely as the Minister and the Houoe supposed. He could not see how some teachers -jould be expected to live on the salaries paid them, simply because they were in the Education Department. Mr McCombs contended that 78 ocr cent, of the women teachers would not gain any advantage from the Bill. Mr Craigie was opposed to centralisation and the wiping out of small board-; Mr Okey wiri he was not satisfied 10 aave boundaries altered as proposed. Mr Buxton objected to did Soi.th Canterbury Foard befog done away with, but considered that the dassity ing and. grading of teachers could be done in Welling -xm. ' Hon. J. Carroll said the Bill did- nob take the broad view they 'night Lave expected; Mr Young hearty supported the measure; and Mr 'Wobo felt tive the House would have vsxoil twice V>.o sum asked ■"■■»'. Mr Hine.said it was a good thing to encourage male teachers to enter the profession. He was inclined to think the centralisation of inspectors would bring about improvement. Messrs Rhodes and Payne also spoke. Mr Allen, in reply to objections, said the Bill made it plain that salary was not dependent upon grade. He defended the classification scheduled,. and pointed ■ out that increases had been made in all sections. • The House went into committee, but no progress was made and leave was granted to sit again. Amendments to the Bill were brought down by Governor's Message, dealing with the expenses of transfer for teachers. The House went into committee and amendments were agreed to. The House rose at 4.37 a.m.