EDUCATION AFFAIRS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 9155, 1 June 1915, Page 2

EDUCATION AFFAIRS.

dOMMiSSION IN WELLINGTON.

QUESTION OF BOUNDARIES.

(Per Press Association).

WELLINGTON, May 31. The Education Commission sat in Wellington to-day. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, chairman of the Wellington. Education Board, said his board considered that Cook Strait interposed a natural barrier to administrative union with Nelson and Maryborough of such a nature that the Strait should continue to form the southern boundary of the district. The Board was 'well aware that subject to administrative convenience a larger area was more economically and more efficiently managed by one than by several bodies, but an increase of area should certainly be determined by considerations of administrative efficiency, including fair opportunity for promotion, which of course was an important factor of efficiency. As provision was made in the Education Act, 1914, for the immediate creation of a Dominion grading of teachers, the argument in favour of an even distribution of the higher positions in. the service amongst the different districts had in fact lost much in force since the 1912 commission reported. "Regarding the rearrangement of districts in the North Island," said Mr Aitken. "my Board is not keenly desirous of increased territory. If, however, as seems probable, a reduction in the number of of North Island Boards is made, my Board ventures tp suggest that, a reasonable ;'redistribution „of territory appears to be (a) the union of Wanganui and Taranaki, (b) an extension of Hawko's Bay by the transfer from Auckland of a part of the country south of the Bay of Plenty. This would permit of an expansion of the Wellington district northward, say over two counties to the west and two to the east of the range. This could be administered from Wellington with ease."

Mr T. R. Fleming, Chief Inspector, said that the Dominion grading scheme of certificated teachers to be brought into force under the Act would to a large extent determine the Boards in relation to the appointment of teachers. Administrative convenience nnd efficiency must be considered when the boundaries ware, being formed. It did not so much matter where the teacher was employed, his grading would give him due consideration when applying for other positions. It was not necessary to have a fail* proportion of good schools' in a district to ensure good- appointments for a Board's teachers.