EDUCATION AIMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 740, 12 February 1910, Page 10

EDUCATION AIMS.

{ THE CONFERENCE. | ' OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS. " IMPORTANT 'RECOMMENDATIONS : Tho General'- Confercnco -.on • Education F^n?^ i 'i':vas!/rejni^ed: in : ; the vXegislatryo : .Council /Chamber,;- Parliament/Building's, -aV/ld ■ (Mr. -G. Hogbon; - .Inspoctor-Gcnoial- .ofK " Schools), ill tlio cliait. th£ Secondary, school 'sysKliSKteSPadjourned; j:V; ) ;/';--wa6/resumed/---Mr:: Marshall -(Dnnedin), ficioncy': certificate, wr.s'asufiicientfguar-. If S?;;PKante6 V of |f or/hig^^^ moved' ns follows — ' j '-/ this - conference,/;/whilst; / E///,/-/:' proficiency/examination' as' one l of - the' - ■ ea®®}.■' ol ' :; /6na blihgV/thb^pupil^'/t^ 'V l ' .^cs'lila^ piipil/be , allowed.'to /enterrOn'-a'-free^; J . :in - a isecondary ,>eliqbl, i tho, par-"i. ■ /6fS; gUarilian fsh6uH,;K;Mmj^lled.fe ;;V-. pupil- reiiiaiii' in the: secondary. echGol-: fbrH period." fe^M^Mr^'MarshiSs.said f that; it%asi-(fuitev ;at * thestin^-'appar i &ti!'woult| 'under-:- thevpresentj.syft; :^^^^; r'-idr.-prp-" |, [ ///;/ficiehcy :certificatesr -'I'he clncf weakncsv . K' : '-.' lay 'in the shortness' of the . period'.of fß[e;;was: quiti^ovpMcd. to; tlw' cii: tajiliuontiofi the;/prmisges of: ; free-.-secohdv J»ry f.?-jffo'-: i'iipitdtioii,!';•.Hasug&^c(>ndg^:. [v.'A-'tfeihsscs/; whose/ number's-';-exceeded'Mv.pcr; i' teachei 1 seconded v.thW-'motioii ; -»,^: teMWWS;i-'#s::: iBSHSsvi I' , , THE OPfiN DOOR,

t AN INTERESTING PROPOSITION. ( |fl^{J^MriiGr^^i^on^Bn)^; -;; a inodiiication-of Mr.'' MafshaU'si'motion,-toe'-i'ollowihg proposition:—;' '. r f (1) "That tho avenue to secondary f 4 education should be quite free and l^s/i'y^uhrestricted;;"ejigibilitjr; therefor. to ...be;X &;K?f^';: , dcp'en4ent - on', one^'/.primary-school; leav-:?; ;#w»tded. kKspectors of;schools." . |$^^.i%t2)i-s"th ! at-itho:;' j ,kihifl Secondary/;; -attended;by; anyone;.;':' ; determined/V.by.-vXljivrthe.;;: ap'titudes; v aiid l;-;'capacities -;, discovered /, ES^ift^toiSg^the; last'xthrre K^?s&pW3irys i school tcourse(2)'- by 'tho■:?/ .V; f the time (1, 2, 3, or 4 years) dilring a'/ cnild: may.,'attend' a' ! secondary, ,7 h institution" s f. ; Gray^ ; :lM.-'vabsb-: lately /-leavingcertificate R§.ffi ; VTeligibility; for. •K^^WgJ^'.^nb4tibi}^;?.H^lM-' : hddAstroßflj;' ;;thaK; entry'?;to MfjpPi shbuldgK; ; •g#nlment .of Hlie'; prescribed' course' at';'.the' [ , secondary acliorls Stage, :j that i both;-"pToi ofsi?|S'ppsiii^ynight!.stand-over;tiU-;la^ 1 i^Cp'hiine^>iiteelf.:-jto ; : a'. !| : ;.;;-';;;the'"- , the.^motion's,'.-taking;'the f|fj : i?if;.;;Wt."'??;Vbrn6n.';:(Palmersto^^ prWary/i schools) he^bntend^,)r ; lm6w-'what. their. fe}6|SyMati6nif.:wpuld;i-be;i;;vMo^^^ pott;;.: -ivantcd " to: be electrical eneineers- ■ ;;' i p«&®K ; Mr;'f^erhph;icbncludin^said^thaiJ:Mr; ; K&4'--^ a ? s ' i \j * > oWn motion. r ; Mh Watson (Wellington) said that the how 'tb 'retaiii the frr-^.-'pupilß-at,tho .schools -for as long' as : pos-' ' ' j 6ible' ( One difficulty was the eyelving b'e'of : ben-, f ' , efit to those who wcro not able to tako f- ,".. edncation., .These wero ;t!io -least able to 5- v; / ''chief anxiety •;of tho. State- , '.; /;f ! ;k& agreed; ffi^?^^|v-thi.il4ii v i^rc^j^te/^Siie'rpiSni- : J;?® proficiency;; supported! Mr ; GrayV-propositipn.. ' ; 'r r Who Shall Pay the Piper? Mr... .Bevan-Brown (Christchurch) said thb^cbnfprehce;.'should /proceed matter//;;- Mri--!Gray's--_v P? 9P Psitioii', Hvouldi : eii Kr ely;; ch ango - th'e V as- - ?';.'.H;-'',pe<:t';of' nationaV cducation in New'f.Zea;Would;, the ■ State//pay-; the" piper ? fc^^^^.wnld.i'^W-lUVe.Vpn'jdrfahd'ttheVcapJ-r Ig:^;inadequatb; : if;;free;;secohda^ - ; /.;wero i mado; : nnxversal;'.:.-Eevent^--flie;pcr ;i I K^pri'nlegeii' : ' ,;educiatib(it rp'Ss^''.J'P^S^ u to ifi/.i/Was'.-the/ l! /advocated ;> in; the'.;;besii A of-the morale of : tho' State? . Thoy were; larger ' liieasnre of free places than' ;any ; , pthe'r./.country ;ih'.-. the.' r wprjd;;,y £ : ;- ; ;. : : ;:'i;,The.;prcsident':; America gives. more.. . |j;y ; ;^gMr;^BbyahJßro < irn'/ Girnioiiy S# : -®;;?v^ry;;low;- ; ;;;;;:;, r Mr. Bmn-Brown/said/that ; educatibn i State! question bf eapitationi- - . •'• |tej ; &ft;The:;prißident;;.said capitation cbiilq ;iibt,'bo 10s;fiiet. : -.4' ; ;;;;^ -. ; • they required a . sorting-machine-;-. for K®j»paoUy.-'.-'i;lfA all - teachers ; were .;bf -.tho [.• '-i '(standing of. Mr. Gray or. of 3fr. .'.Marwould hesitate to'/trnst;their iii' J;he- diMrimiiiaitioffibffpupils;, as;; things-" were,S hp" preferred/" :th&; fK^M;rough-ahd-reaay;; mbthod-' of//examination; h%p;#®cro;;'was -/a; gemal;;igtoancb/vonj the L: ''/.. ;- of tho .public as' to tHe existence of - tte' junior ■free -'tliovjatt--'■ : bf--.hea'd-" fes;S.\niasters: tpwards;it;; Tho; proficiency cxajninatipiv appearedito/'.have. '"' He /advocated; a.chanige; bf taking, the junior .free' .exceptions l-f-Hft.'/ iii': favour (.of' pupils^ih 1, the ;rembt§';'dis-' them' '.to 1 take' the proici--PjfttpKMcy./certificate;pf: Standard VI., .. '[ ;; -- - ;-■ Cia'uso* I' of ;Mr.''Gray's 1 propbsitibri.'was: i: i- ';.then put, and.carried by 30 to 14; On : tho;.debate' on'.the '.see'orid.j'clause, of' fP-SS' ; ,Mr.'?Gray:S^;''pTOpositipnV,;the^'.nibver'; said fe-jji/that; th©;^idea/-underlying; tho clause was to'indicate: Sj]Si^the;;tmic:.thht tbvbe; speni trK-S';;byitheii' Emitted.to the'beiie-. ;, ;.-.; ebrne guarantee or/'bond should'be . giv«ii : . ; • intorder to e.isurn that the. pupils-'would ' ; l '-v ir' : enough, in- the :se.cohdary ;ih- ; to'Jdo ;; thcihficlves, " J ahd /the '•'; -.'i BcHoo'.s adequate justice; •. ' " ./-fel!'Mr! . Firth (Wellington) .Glausb; : . 2. ' He did not;quite;.seo;;hbw -J[f;vGiay ;y^&y\r&' : ''goiiig : to; obtain'--hjs ! 'guarahtee;/ but ;1 : --'that would be a nialter of detail, to-be 'sv/K;':; ; -settled.; later; h-f-' /V- ; Y, :

.Continuation Cfasses. ■. At this stage the president indicated v: that. ;the 7disciissioii ;.'hntl '.overstepped its natural course: :.they; had not yetsatisfied thom'tolvea'as' to what.precisely-.'con-, ftithtcd odiinatiori'/'. IHe . de-vflnfld':liisV-id6as'-".6n>-.-that''question;-- arid concluded'by .'.expressing; hisopinions-that'-.-either by local option, a=. in ■ Switzerland; : /or,by:law, : as'in : German j>.'all lindividiials v.W'/a certain age ..siibnld ' L bo c6ni)ielled. to "extend' the. period' of. education;for';three. : .years :after ; ;f<uiving school.. -Hy. education! - !somn hind, of -instruction- such. ? as;' might' be Obtained by attendance : at corrtimmtion -- did not sec- how the-Vteaoher could determins the line of study to be adopted. He would-'oppose . the .motion ground. 1 '- y. :'. , 'l , lic"pi'Gsidont,. quoting, from the official. ".' report!, said, that the average "time spent in the ■ secondary; '.vns nm\- tn-o i; aridSaV; Half i. y.e'ai's, • etjtla!;ito the -..figures' 5- for; Kow I'ori: and ,Chi.ca;r6i ; . Jlr. .'Hill .(Haivho's ' Bay) said ,;that, the. "propositioii would be 'detrimental to secondary education.. .'

i : Diaflnosing .the. Pupils. • Mr/Ritchie (Canterbury) was strongly ill/sympathy with/the desire to open-as '.widely ns pqssiblo the doors of tho.sccondary schools. ,/He,wasdoubtful/as to the.: eificacy.: of ; parental '-guarantees on ; tho' question' of- secondary courses'., Pupils did- hot. manit'estjitheir. /strongest -.bents till.;abpitt :n ; year -' or so later, and' by •keeping.- in touch with-,the-.:parents that could ■ bo. ascertained ihea. -,;')dr;- ; La •'i'rpbo,, (\Vellihgtoii) /said -that examination' could. not diagnose' tho future capacities' of .tho pupil./ That whs/a niat'tcr for consultation'; between' - Ciio parent and 'the teacher. >' Replying -, to .- criticisiii,' Mr.: "*: Gray •oqritendeathat: .it -/would' be . quite practicable , to .;determine, .by, '.a- con•sultntionHhetwe'Cn : the", teacher ' and ■ the parent, wliat' particulari line, of'-intollec- . ttial - effort' a'' ,^atr ti(S\ilai , ' , ;impil . was best -fatted ; for.'.': Children" should not bo allowed :to . drift': into /schools for . which' they had no/capacity. : us Clause' 2 was-earned -by,-'-23'.votes to. 18. ;- jProfessor■- Haslam,. (Christchurch) then, moved:' v';-.-.' -'

:• "That; .pupils',■' bei'not 'admitted : to i - secondary; ,schpbls : unless---the - parent '!.!' guaranteesl haft tho -child' shall f' stay.

'' j.in': tlio' 'socondaiT-.'-.-sohool''-- ■ for -three ..years, and that; a certain sum of ;.mohoy. bo. deposited, to %.forfeited in 'tcaM'the^guaraiitee^is!^brokei^",. I k'i ' obi'jectioiv toXthe.principle/.embodied..in _the ■motion.- .sh'ut Children ~ffflm?'thevsecondary ,;:;. ,- '. '/related, itablished/ the, liead.masteiy of /tho' Auck-' laifd'' , Graniniai«Sbßboinia4-Suggested--the noed for a;;guarantee: The iq'uestion ■ was debated-by-tho-Board: of/ Governors,-, and deferred. r vSubserjucntly, .probably ns /the result/of'/the/ board's /discussion; mcom.pletb attendances.' had;\lajrgely:/fallen ; off. In 'tho cii'se of those/ wJio did-' leave, it Was -to ' th'e' ; - advaTita'gc'"ot / : the 'school.; - -i Hi.Vernon.' (I'almerstdn - North) op : posod the motion. llg 'did' iiot /.want any .nioro- official forms' to iill in./ (Laughter.) 111-: Marshall' (Diinedin) moved that all 130 / foniitted.: This was seconded., - "//,;>.:' • Professor ./Kirk reniarked that ono •Biightj i >vith;. equal; Consistency; ask . for ,a "giiarahtqb that,'a piiir 'of/bdbts!.would last, three years. .(Laughter.) '- - /':/,//"/ : • The amendinent-was carried. • .;/; /Professor/ Haslam's motion.: was then put and rejected,. ~'.../. I,' ,- fit j 'Our. Infant Scliools. : certain the infant 'SoHooli; of - N6W./ Zedlilnd'^by». Mil-George-during tho debate on the. opening'day ibf:,the.conference,- complained' that an injustite ■' had beeri/:'dbne;/.''-;She /did/ not wish the stigma that had been cast to go,-forth", towtho'/publip/mnepntradictedi .Sahspqnently/i/shblhhd/'liad a/conversa-' tion with/Mr.; George, who had explained' that in his criticisms of -tho'/iivfant schools, he had in- raihd-/the. character ?of- .tho" -buildings and/',the, arrahgomentfi:; tor?staß' ing. 'On these /points sho agreed. ... : tliivercargiip/said that/if , ! there was anything wrong- .with' the ' work' :of the infant schools it had-.to .be ronibm-; ;bered''tbat./the/infant'"claS i ; teachers.,were; dpinß .their:very/best.in-,.the^.'/face:of diffl-: ■ (ifiltiM- : ,(:iinpbM'd;-- i u^n":tKem':,by.. ; ithe'/pr'e ; . sent; conditions- 'of - j:he school buildings i and-.the/- aTrahgements-;fpr.'. staffing.-;/.To -frequent' '-agitations/ fbf ■ a'/'better, conditiou of things, 'tho reply had been that; nothing could be done. ; . . '/!/:; ' -This' concluded.,'.theforenoon /session;■;/•

CONTINUATION SCHOOLS,

'extending the education

PERIOD V! Oiwth'e ;.w&&rekce'' ; p;m,; •Mr./ Gi'ay ' (Wellington);; mbyecl;^:;; ;"Tiiai:.th'e ;edu'ca'tibn ; ioTO^ fi should be continued/;upto, the-'age; ;j'^bf-;17;:years."j;;;:;;i, -i The-'mover.- 'said 'that tne 'idea-was. that 'every child'should, remain under instruct .'.tibh-.. of/ the 'ago/of "17 Jears , Hill /pupil; should»be \ compelled': toj/proceed J;tq ;specialised -v cburses :via'.;; '. continuation classed,.'Theipurpbse '-.bf-i primary 1 school ;training '.was' not. toSprovido ■ errand boys 'and; : nurse-girls,.-'but.:..; to';/supplyv. higher; for: their attainment. \ ; ;;-i'Mr."' ;i (Jbyen ;;(Otago) i -; said.;;th'at. ; - thby hadnbw'entercd' uponoriQ'. r of; the most 'importantv'questiphs.V.bf ''the; conference.. There were at 18 ! or.-'34;-'for.:.'whom;-iio prevision; at 'till. were ' mado. Then caife those - who remained at school till 15 or. 16. Tho third till- tho QEO of .18 "or :19,/and-fromwhoni; iras -recruited.,the life .'of .-'the country, - - ; From ' the .15 ; or-Ifclass came.' , the; elite; of Jthb-.commerciaLscbmmunity! ;iind : , much 'larger class:-'.-Tho'flrstclass—l3; to;:l4^supplie'd the v workers 'on a lower plane.' vWas this 1 sufficient . .for, ■ the"; r 'civic' . and. economic-equipment. of:i the individual It iwaszcertain;,thatVmuch .of;, tho money spent! on-:educntibri.;,.which: terminated at' 13 or 14 was largely, wasted. These were, at :the.Vmbst;;cr.itical-''stage/ : of . their-life; they.; passed tout -from;'tne'; discipline; of tho school into tile streets, ;so; to-_' say.;'. Was;there, no- remedy? : Their economio, ,cbnditions'<nccesSitn.ted. that certain-child--'ren should leave school .at; 13. or 14; and. follow : somo employment.- '..That; being sb,tltey should provide,.for. further education, ;at...cbnHhuatioh ;He ;would-com-pel ;• om ployers ,to; grant;.oppbrtunities for these; boys - and girls.... to.; attend ■ day ;cohtinuation -classes—fivo or six hours- per -week;-would sufßcb-'.'for .. the - anstructioh 1 required. , . v - Scotland's Way. .; .-/.Quoting /from;, ilie ; Scpttish) Education aoter.'of the instruction, to be' afforded.' to such -pupils should be of a literary kind, as in Scotland, where tho - law.- prescribed cpntinu'otipn study-for Children.up. to the age lof '>17 /years, indicated the' caurse;;of-. study, iind qmpoweted tho.bb'a'rds to;com-; pel'.attendance.'*By:linjjtjijg; the. hours, of jWorjc for'; all iiindet 17; alid-'Cbmpolling; eitt--ployers .'tov;gi-an ti-faoilitie3;;f or; attenqanco at the -'classes, -would bo;good Jor the, nar. tion, and, hence, .good for ,the/employers, 'With-their; sympathy, and that of the trade^^'.iinions,; it ;■ would easy;'"to'- add, bhormously; -:'to; the; pivio^and'. industrial -efficiency; bf -'the'; D'omiriibn.- • The question of;oxtended;schbbl/life'was bound up with the industrial system. -v'l'he'- president/ pointed;, out '.that /.there: wore,,.in; Buropo/ three- different; systeiiis :^®inunity/the principle of/.continuation/study; up! to th'\ age' of ;17—voluntary, permissive, and local option. ij ' : ; ''. , l --.;./;. .("■ .'Mr.-- George'.(Auckland -•'at;:' this' .stage 't'p'/substttiiteVfbf/Mr/motion:—''.';,- ■;/ - ;.■,v i; ; v.';"l'hat /the. .age- of-'exemption' be : '-v/w - --J ' ; motion.,''-Ho ,didVnot,.;pevceivo any' diffi-. .culty"in. ; applying- the.principlb.hdvbciited ,by. Mr.' Gray to N urban areas, :but anticipated'considerable.'difficulty, vvith respect to its - application to the /rural /'districts. ■It might be ■well/to. .the. period of -'compulsory; military ; training npw.\ provided/for. 'in I'Nb'w'iZealahd should, 'not I'/ be'. ' associated .- 'with ;stridy.'v/,';S^f; j V- ;, -,;-'/;--- -:''-:v;--; J v-v"' ■' > Mr;--Watkins'' (Christcllurch) thought that] prcfe'reiico should''be given' to' day continuation classes;/ . . -'. v. ;: .; ;Mf.; Gray pointed'but that.;the singl'. point of between his and Mr. George's, pr'opositiph'', was that while 'Mr.: Geo'rge : ; proposed,.- tb flx' .tho' 'school age',;limit-rageV. of' exemption—at- fifteen yctirs, lie" (the • speaker) 1 \vs; not.'prepaj-e'd ;to; say that, definitely; but:.desir«l, provision for insti'uctioii. of .some /kind up to the ago bf' seventeen; • '. /.. '-- '/■•"■ • The mendment moved hy ■ Mr.'' George wa-s adopted. . ' ' Jt. /was. .further agreed to add the words;— . . ;

r find that beyond; that age 1 ! ' 'itlis desirable, tliat and .'girls. : not, receiving fuir.time. instruction at brVothef'&lwls.'VshonW-'iit- J ; terid'{ continuation -.classes .until, they; ; /reach *the' age of scventOTrtj-years." ;.. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. A COMPLIMENT ~TO STRATFORD. ■ /The president, initiating the discussion 011 "The Work of the Secondary.Schools,'V referred appreciatively, to the work which was, being "done , by certain; of; tho. rural liigli schools, specially mentioning Stratford District: High School, where practical. courses-in agriculture wero ; being '.carried'' :out" -.under.-, the most up-to-date auspicos. Instances bad been recorded of

pupils attending : these courses having been' of actual benefit to their parents in. connection/with questions. of . farm economy. Borne of the country's secondary schools were'doing,good, work in: the application of useful, methods of. education. ' '■"//-; '' --/ •'. "/ ■■

; Mr. Alexander . (Lincoln College) ,observed that the . .subject of agricultural education ' had . occupied the, minds, of many men in riiiiiiy countries/-for some time, and' was>not 'yet in a condition. . At:. LirieohrrCollego his',ex-. :penoricc ~ had . been , " that:, tho ; majority, of. his- /students "were, many of. them, unable to placo their views: oh paper—whether that : was the .fault of the neglect of. formal grammar or not— : (laughter)—he was not prepared to say— ' their : knowledge; of practical, arithmetic /wiis poor, and tliey Had inaccurate , habits ,of .working; ; Whose was the blame, for that condition:of things—the .primary'or the seddndary schools? He did not know. It -was essential ' that the agricultural student should be taught to'develop his powers'of observation. After setting out; at considerable length,' the arguments for and against the teaching of : agriculture, Hr.' Alexander. defined';,'wlmt in his opinion, should be. the,-scope of 1 the science so far as it concerned the,primary and ■ secondary'-; schools, j Nothing should lie, dono ' in, the' • 'primary schools . more than the cnltiyhtion of; small -plots. In ■the-secondary schools n'more extended course, including the-.naming of plants and the'stu'dv.-of'certain*applied sciences,, might be adopted. - He' was .in favour: of continuation classes in agriculture.: ' : /: The president .indicatedtbat : .instructors in' agriculture, should be : required to attend a course' of. training in the art of teaching.'. Jfr.'i Alexander ■ agreed:' ■ It' ! should beSrovided that, individuals' preparing for' ie' vocations,- of : agricultural ; instructors .should' finish' their: course: in ' agriculture, and proceed to a: course iri- the art of -teaching afterwards. >

ABOLISHING SCHOLARSHIPS. : AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. /,', ■ ' Aai-interesting discussion'cbntre'd about' tho, proposition tabled; by - Mr. .Holmes (Hawke s Bay), that scholarship's "should abolished. -The'debate : ir'as. initiated by , the president,,-who remarked,'-by way .of'proface;'that' ho did |not/ 'see w ; hen they wcre. oifering free' places, they 'wanted/'money> for scholarships./ (Hear, hear;) Ho did not see the: good-'of school scholarship -competitions, and/ lie- hoped to - see tho day when rural and urban ;pupils; would/be placed on an' equality'; v; llr. : nolnes then moved:— //■ ■ / / /. (a) That all junior, • national, and ; - , board scholarships be abolished. '-, . / - . (b) .- That: sufflcient'S travelling/, ex-/. - penses; and' boarding . allowances 'be ■ ; - made' :'■■ to thoso /' pupils • ..'attendiilg //■secojidary/schools; frpm.'a; distance,/ or-,;// obliged. to live away from home. ' -.. ,-/; Speaking :-to : ; the ? nmtioni/'Mr. ' Holmes said that * whatever money 'was .available for-educational be' expended /on ■ the?basis/of; thfe'''greatest good; Tor tho greatest .-number'.' It.was .'not. so it' present."- Tho free-places, awarded by tho State. were, he considered, tho best scholarships the. : . children could/'get.' '-;-.. ■ The motion .was:seconded by Mr. Plem-. : ing;; who., .said ~ that, when; the/ principle'.. of: free places, was first, introduced, lib' had, recominended/ his board to: expend • the available scholarship monoy'.on.:the country /children, ; sinos. the . children - in.. the urban ,-areas/could /obtain : free .places at convenient' secondary schools. / ■ ' / ; ;,: - ,/,•Professor--/Thomas :(Aucklaiid) thought /that if/a b'barding/.allbwanco were granted, - there should be. attached some condition Vith :• respeo't-,to f the 1 house wherein each; boarded:put; pupil was /to reside; Ei-.i !periehoe 'had ' shown i that" there had ; been cases where "; pupils r - ; h ad presided'/ ' in- ' undesirable- households 1 ../ /(Hear,..l(ear.) '/He 'thought, : also,;. that an'/allownncb Vshould,be made for, school books.' •/ '/- ' Thepresident not: officially,''' 1 ' that' - full' boarding / allowances should; be inade,' arid • a/.rule.. made that. pupils should reside* iii licensed boardinghouses', ; where bearding, .'establishments in connection with tho schools were not .maintained.' ; /■--- .;<//- ;/': -/ -■' ''.

Mr. j/Petrio';;(Auckland) '. thought ..that .'some,statement-iofuthß.'toanfcial Aspects' of. the'.proposition • shouldbe -placed, before them.■ In tho, absence of; that;' he;; would liavo to vote.in.tho dark, .;";/-V.j

' Tho president You ivill ; find it. in my report of' three 'years' ago. ..'I Mr. Petrie,' ;continuiiig',\'opihed -. thafTtTio. abolition;, of scholarships;'. woujd'■ ris'ult in a;' perceptible shrinkage-, in.; thef efficiency of tho. pupils. ' ;V ' i The: president; poir£ted--. out thct. the 'abolition/..0f ; the' scholarships f woulu.' im-' ply' only "thb:/oxtinction;.of, the; principle' of '.'ConipotitiTe/' the, .'qualifying Examinations; : They.cbuld./coii-: trol ' the ;efficiency'/ of, the--pupils.;:thrpugiV the gualifyi'ng-^examination.i;,v'■■, : Mr. Cousihs'- fAuckliind),;,'.j endorsed ",tH6" contentions of-tho 'mover/.. Th'o -/dagger could lib:'ln' the" application of so tho-' roughly- democratic -.a principle,' suited to the'.necessities.>of - ; tho/period; i'Miv. asked what 'would to' the effectin the district , high schools. Would not ; ihe 'adbptibiiV of \this' motion signify the 'death/of'.'these institutions?;, .../Ihe president:'No; impossible uhder;the. : Act. : v;,''7'!' : -'r''>r •vMr;.,..- Bevan-Brown ■; gested'.that inpursuance;-of-ii. policy ofuniversal-' free education ' they; would shortly : be.-asked to' feed: and -.clothe- -tho children.;-^'-;;:

; -After .'.further' / discussion,;; tho -.motion, submitted 'in /.two, clauses, ; was- 'carried amid applause.., '' -'/•'};;:; .'. The conferencß,. then; adjourned' till-9;30, a/m. tp-day.'.'A'fcP'nsider,able;.quantity of business;,still, requires to'-' be" done.'/'.lt'is" hoped, cbli.oludpl'atjl^S./p.m^.