CONFERENCE OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 43, 19 August 1902, Page 5

CONFERENCE OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

« _ conference of delegates from the Education Boards of the colony opened its sittings at the Education Board's Office this morning. The conference was hold at the suggestion of the* Nelson Board. Mr. J. R. Blair (Wellington) occupied the chair, and the following delegate* were present : — Rev. George Barclay (South Canterbury), Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, M.H.R. (Otago), Messrs. W. Macalister and J. A, Hanon, M.H.R. (Southland), Mr. George Talbot (Nelson), Mr. F. Phani, M.H.R'., and Mr. George S. Bridge (Wanganui), Messrs. D. Buddo and C. A. C. Hardy, M.H.R. (North Canterbury), and Mr. A. W. Hosr, M.H.R. (Wellington). ° On the motion of Mr. Macalister (Southland^ ii wa» reßolved~"That, in addition to ordinary capitation and other grants, adequate provision should be made for the cost of administration by Boards." During the discussion, mx. Hogg (Wellington) advised caution in the limit of its asking. The sixteen motions oh the order-paper pertaining to matters affecting Boards oil contained an outcry for more money. The conference should be careful lest it raised such a state of public feeling as would militate against the education sj-Btem. Mr. S. Ellis (Secretary of the Nelson Board) was appointed Secretary to the conference. It was decided to invite the Minister of Education to take part in the conference. Mr.* Hanan moved, "That a substantial increase be made in the annual building grant paid to Boards." All the speakers agreed that! more liberality should be Bhown to Boards for building purposes. Mr. Mackenzie pointed out that this year's Estimates in Parliament did not contain an increase upon last year's vote foi building purposes. The Canterbury delegates said the great need in their districts was a grant ior residences foi teachers. Mr. Blair, remarking that there were 103 schools constructed in wood in the Wellington, .district, said that sooner or later .the colony would have a difficult problem to solve in. .this matter of wooden buildings. A considerable portion of the revenue of Boards was being expended in repairs. The motion was adopted with one dissentient. Mr. F. Pirani moved, "That the capi« tation to Boards be increased by 3s 4d to supplement the incidental .allowances to committees, .and to provide for such otfcei purposes as the Boards may think fit." The motion was carried unanimously. This motion aims at diverting to incidental purposes the extra 2s 6d set q.part, for teachers under the Teachers' Classification Act of last year and also the nihepence provided to increase the allowance to committees from 11s 3d to 12s. The following series of resolutions was adopted without any diacußsion : — "That primary and secondary schools be placed under the same governing body." "That primary and secondary education should be articulated and brought under the control of the Education Boards." "That this Board strongly; disapproves of the proposed centralisation of the inspectorate." That inspectors should be {granted free passes on the railways." "That it is desirable that the inspectors should meet the teachers in conference at regular intervals." "That suitable permanent provision be made for payment of relieving teachers." "That there is need for the adequate training of tbachers." The motion- sent up by the Otago Board, "That the Education Boards should be elected by a wider constituency than at present," was opposed by Otago's delegate, Mr. T. Mackenzie. The motion was. not debated, but a show of hand* had to.be taken upon it, when six delegates voted in support of and four against it. Resolved, "That the centralising tendency acts ' directly in the teeth of the genius of the English people for local self-government,', and, unless arrested, will prove detrimental to the interests of education." On the motion of Mr. Buddo (North Canterbury) it wab resolved, "That in order to save time and clerical labour, the grant for manual and technical instruction should be made. to Boards direct, as < the ' small sum of Is capitation for school classes istfn danger of being used up in administratiion; and also that the regulations be modified to allow classes' to -be formed without the present exacting conditions." The delay of the Education Department in attending to business brought before it by Boards was the subject of much severe criticism from delegates. The debate was sharp and lively, Messrs. Hogg, Macalißter, and Hanan being the only delegates who -had a good word to say for the Department. Ultimately the following resolution was carried by seven votes to three on the- motion of Mr. T. Mackenzie : — "That this conference trusts that greater promptitude will be shown by the Department in connection with communications with Boards, and also deprecates the tendency of the central office to encroach on the powers and functions of the Boards." 'Resolved, "That the conference view with disfavour the* multiplication wpetty text-books." ''That provision should be made for the teadhing of sewing in all schools." It was Te*solved, on the motion of Mr. Pirani, "That the Chairman and Messrs. Bridge, Macalister, Hardy, and the moverbe a committee tb frame a' report on the resolutions carried by the conference to submit to the Acting-Premier and Minister of Education." At 1 o'clock 'the conference adjourned until 10 o'clock to-morrow morning,