EDUCATION BILL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 12

EDUCATION BILL

EVIDENCE TO BE HEARD BY COMMITTEE

FIRST MEETING INTENDED FOR APRIL »

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, March 22.

It is intended at the moment that the Education Committee of the House of Representatives will be called together on April 5 to consider the Education Amendment Bill, which was introduced on the last day of the recent session of Parliament, said the Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser), in an interview this evening, after a meeting of the Cabinet. Because of the wide administrative changes proposed in the Education Amendment Bill, a great deal of importance is already attached to the coming deliberations of this committee. Its members are Mr C. Carr (Government, Timaru), who is the chairman, Mr H. Atmore (Independent, Nelson), Mr W. A. Bodkin (National, Central Otago), Mr H. G. Dickie (National, Patea), Mr H. E. Herring (Government, Mid-Canterbury), Mr T. H. McCombs (Government, Lyttelton), Mr A. H. Nordmeyer (Government, Oamaru), Mr C. R. Petrie (Government, Hauraki), Mr S. G. Smith (National, New Plymouth), and the Minister for Education. An indication of the importance which the Government itself attaches to the work of the committee is given by the fact that it is intended that its deliberations should be open to the press. The Parliamentary motion authorising the committee to sit during the recess did not mention this aspect, but it is stated that the meetings will be open to accredited reporters. The motion which the House of Representatives passed authorised the committee to sit during the recess and for 14 .days after the start of next session “with power to consider the principles of the Education Amendment Bill, both generally and in relation to the principal act.” The committee has been asked to report to the House before the expiration of the 14 days allowed for meetings after the beginning of the next session. It is expected by the Minister that the work of the committee will take about a month to complete. Representations will be heard from all interested organisations affected by the changes proposed in the new bill, the provisions of which have, it is stated, been so drawn as to provide a wide order of reference for an investigation into the education system generally. Mr Fraser has.himself emphasised that a full opportunity would be given to all interested parties to express their views on the changes. t The Education Amendment Bill was introduced with an explanatory statement, which made it clear that its purpose was to “formulate certain major proposals for the alteration of the administration of primary and postprimary education in New Zealand (not including university education), in order that the proposals may be considered during the recess by a select committee of the House and by education boards, the governing bodies of schools, and other organisations and persons concerned with the improvement of the existing system.” The explanatory statement also made it clear that it is the intention of the Government when the bill has been considered and final decisions made, to prepare a consolidation of the Education ,Act, incorporating the approved proposals.