INSPECTORS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15022, 17 July 1914, Page 7

INSPECTORS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT.

THE MINISTER'S STATEMENT

(*m .ai. to "tuk vRr.-S.'*) WELLINGTON. July IC. Mr Allen ".as paid a great compl: ment- by the House to-night. While he was explaining the details of his Euuoati. n Bill, from all parts of the Houso came requests that he «-hould not 1.1 hampered by the time limit, and eventually, on the suggestion or" Mr Rnssoll, in the absence of tho Loader of the Opposition. Mr Allen was grant .i an extension of time. Ho gave a detailed explanation of tho Bill, which wa. listened to by the Houso with groat attention. In regard to the propo_al to have tho inspectors under the control of the Go-.Mr'i-mouit, be said ho had no doubt, there would bo differences of opinion on that point. Tlie question of bringing them into closer touch with tho Department was, however, very important. For his own part, ho was at ftrst rather averse to that, but ultimately lu-be.-ante alisolutoly convinced in favour cf it. So groat would be tho saving that bo hoped to bo a bio to pay the increased salaries of those inspectors -without additional cost Tho overlapping that at present existed would bo dono away with. One of the first thing- tlu\v would have to deal with would be tho groat difference in the standard of tho certificates of efficiency and competence It would bo impossible to got any standard unless there was some control over an inspector to givo him a standard. With each inspector interested in his district alone, he would endoavour to get as many certificates as he could. Tbo result was that some district, got more than they should, and, therefore, boys and girls bad gone into secondary schools who were, not properly prepared, and tbo State had, in consequence, boon wasting a certain sum of money. Another re_6on for getting the inspoctonunder the Department was in regard to a Dominion scale of salaries. It would be practically impossible to arrange this unless they could get some moans by which they oould pay teaohors on the same basis. With the inspectors in the hands of the Board, a. at present, it was impossible to say that ono grado in a district was tho same as another; indeed, there was the greatest variation between oho district and another. In the Bill it was provided that this Dominion grading might be carried out. later on, if tho inspectors wero brought into closer touch with tho Department. The question of the transfer of teachers from ono school and from one district to another, and the question of the interpretation of tho syllabus, also, wero closely allied with this proposal. x\tpresent there was a considerable differonco of interpretation in difforonf. district.. MEDICAL INSPECTION. Thero was, Mr Allen explained, a new provision in regard te modical inspection. They intended, to insist upon tlie parents, aa far as tho moan, would let them, getting their children medically attended to in cases in which th© Health Officer reported thorn to be suffering from serious di&e>_se or bodily defect. On parent, being notified, and failing te tako the necessary action, they could bo adjudged guilty of cruelty.