EDUCATION BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1898, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Board of Education took place this afternoon. There were present — Messrs. J. 11. Blair (Chairman), J. Young:, TV. W. M'Cardle, J. Robertson, IP. Bradey, E. Feist, and A. TV. Hogg and W. C. Buchanan, M.H.R.'s, and the Rev. J. Paterson. The bank account was shown as follows :—: — Dr. to buildings account, £3251 10s sd ; cr. to maintenance account, £3906 14s 8d ; contract liabilities, £4084 9s (including the Technical School buildings). Payments tor maintenance account, £4459 17s fid, and buildings account, £193 3s Bd, were authorised. The Truant Officer's report showed that he had visited a number of country schools where the attendance had been very irregular for some time, and a number of summonsnotices were issued at each place, with satisfactory results. AN IMPORTANT REPORT. The Technical School Committee Recommended : — That the. Board advertise for another Assistant Inspector, at a salary of £300 and actual travelling expenses; that the salary of the Senior Inspector be reduced to £500" (the Chairman dissenting) ; that the salary of the second Inspector be fixed at £375 ; that the salary of the third Inspector be fixed at £300; that in future all actual travelling expenses be allowed to each Inspector ; that the office hours of the Inspectors be the same as those of the office staff; and that monthly reports of <the duties performed by each Inspector be submitted to the Board at each monthly meeting of the Board. The Committee could not see its way to accede to the application from Miss Lingard for promotion to the po&ition of an assistant, the period of her service as a cadet, in terms of her appointment, not having yet expired. During the discussion the Rev. J. Paterson protested against an increase of the staff of Inspectors, not agreeing with the method of examination. Mr. Hogg agreed with Mr. Palersoivs strictures upon the standard examination. More responsibility should be given to the teachers, because, as at present, the smart child was kept back because of the average child. The Chairman pointed out that the teacher could classify scholars, and it was not unusual for a child to pass two standards in one year. Mr. Robertson thought that the higher honours of the Board's staff should go to graduates. Mr. Buchanan asked for more time to consider the report, and moved tor the adjournment of the discussion until the next meeting of the Board. The Rev. Mr. Paterson seconded this motion, which, on being put, was lost. During the discussion upon the point whether the report should be taken in gloho or clause by clause, the Chairman pointed out that in clause 2 the Board was departing from its rule that no retrospective action should be taken with regard to salaries. Mr. Young replied to this that the Chief Inspector's salary was proposed to be reduced because the appointment of a third luspector would greatly relieve the Chief Inspector. Mr. Paterson protested against the reduction of the salary of the Chief Inspector, as did also Mr. Buchanan. Keeping Mr. Lee in the office would make that gentleman's services even more valuable than hitherto, for in all departments of life the highest paid officials I were those who were doing guiding work in the office. The State had already lost some of its best officials .because other people and other colonies had offered them greater financial inducements. A salary of £300 was not sufficient for the additional Inspector, and he moved that £350 be the'salary. This I did not meet with a seconder, and the clause was passed as reported, it having been decided that the report be taken seriatim. Mr. Buchanan opposed the reduction of the Chief Inspector's salai'y. Mr. Robertson said the whole question had been threshed out by the Committee, which considered it had good reasons for its action. Mr. Young said Mr. Buchanan had put his fellow-members in an unfair light. The Committee had set out to reorganise the whole system carried on by the Board. Mr. McCardle thought £500 , was an ample salary for the Chief Inspector, and considered Mr. Lee would in the future have a much better and less irksome position than hitherto There was no desire to cast any slur upon the Inspector and his abilities. Mr. Feist thought it looked like a vote of want-of-conndeuce in an old officer, and would vote against the clause as it appeared in the report. Mr. Hogg said he was sorry to see the last speaker go back upon his opinion expressed in Committee, as, with the exception oi! the Chairman, the clause had been unanimously adopted. He (Mr. Hogg) thought the salary ample, and

it was tlie duty of the Board to consider the. taxpayer in dealing with salaries. Mr. Bradey considered Mr. Leo's duties would b(> considerably lightened by tho appointment of an extra Inspector. The Chairman said Mr. Lee repudiated the statement that his work would be lightened. The clause was carried as in the report, and eventually the report as brought down was adopted without amendment.