"A DELICATE QUESTION."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1316, 20 December 1911, Page 5

"A DELICATE QUESTION."

SCHOLARSHIP-HOLDERS AND BOARD-ING-HOUSES- . . i A recommendation from tho Secondary Schools Conference: "That scholarshipholders lodging in high school or district high school centres should be required to stay in houses wpproved by the principal of the secondary school attended," engaged the of the Wellington Education Board at its meeting yesterday. Mr. J. G. W. Aitken remarked that the suggestion implied the nomination of certain boarding-houses. "A very delicate question," commented Mr. Wm. Allan. "It would be a dangerous thing to interfere at all," said Mr. Hogg. "I don't think so. Mr. Hogg," commented tho chairman (Mr. Robert Lee). Mr. Aitken mentioned another caso irhere a pupil'had been accepted by a certain boarding-house on the strength of the local standing of tho school attended, but the' boarding-house people bad never got their money. The chairman observed that on a new; subject of that nature the board should take, time to consider. They might generally approve of the principle, but certain difficulties called for careful consideration. -Mr. Hogg moved that the board generally approve, but that there wcro difficulties in the way. Mr. Buchanan suggested the addition of the words:, "and endeavour to provide a. remedy." Mr. Aitken deprecated any resolution which would savour of high-handed action in dealing with the matter. Tho recommendation of the Secondary Schools Conference sot forth that the pupil should be, ''required" to stay in approved houses. He suggested "recommended," or "advised." Mr. T. R. Fleming, the board's chief inspector, pointed out that the board had no mandate in tho matter, which could only be dealt with by an amendment of th» scholarship regulations. The board accordingly resolved in terms of Mr. Aitken's suggestion in the direction of substituting the word "recommended" for the word "required."