EXTRA EDITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 150, 25 June 1912, Page 8

EXTRA EDITION.

EDUCATION COMMISSION EXTENSION OF TIME GRANTED. CONDITIONS~ON THE WEST COAST. JBT TELBGBAPH — fRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The Education Commission has opened its sittings in Christchurch. Thp chairman stated that the Commission had been granted an extension of time till 24th July--The Westland Education Board forwarded a statement of the conditions on the West Coast, showing that centralisation was impossible. Educational training was difficult, and it was not easy to obtain or retain certificated teachers. The board suggested the adoption of provisional certificates for teachers with a standard lower than D examination. ' Mr. C B. Wood, former Inspector for North Canterbury, condemned the present system of training teachers, which required attendance both at the Training College and the University College. He recommended the appointment of a Com mission of three exports to visit Europe. Mr. M. Dalzell, chairman of the North Canterbury Education Board, said inspectors' salaries ought not to be charged to the board of administration. He criticised the regulations at some length, and recommended that Technical Colleges should be under a separate board representing trades. Education Boards should be advised of the actual amounts available for rebuilding, and should be givea Sj per cent'l on thß cost of construction for maintenance. The building grant omitted in 1909 should be paid. Owners subdividing large, areas of land should be compelled to reserve school sites at the original cost. Sick pay should be full salary for the first month. Some of the grant for free books should be devoted to copy and exercise books. Free books were not wanted by parents. Payment of probationers should be increased so as to encourage them to enter ■ the service. The Gisborne Educational Institute forwarded a statement suggesting that scholarships should be abolished and boarding allowances substituted j country schools should be centralised as far as pos&ible; technical training be excluded from primary' schools and confined to secondary and continuation schools; inspectors be paid at least the maximum salary for headmasters; and a Dominion scheme be" drafted for th© promotion of teachers. The institute is opposed to the demilitarisation of Junior Cadets, and urged that the underpayment of teachere in the lower grades was the chief cause of th* shortage of teasers.