EDUCATION DISTRICTS

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 86, 9 October 1915, Page 9

EDUCATION DISTRICTS

THE BILL PASSES NUMBEB FIXED AT NINE. The Education Boundaries Bill occupied the attention of the House of Representatives for the greater part of yesterday morning and afternoon. The debate on the part of most members was perfunctory and without effect, and the Bill passed unamended. Continuing the debate in the afternoon, Mr. Payne expressed the opinion that once a syllabus had been laid down the administration of the schools was merely a matter of business, and the fewer the boards were the more economical the administration was likely to be. As at present constituted Education Boards sapped the enthusiasm and energy of the teachers, besides being wasteful in regard to expenditure. Mr. Ta.lbot considered that if they took away local control they would be going backwards instead of forwards, and the towns would reap the advantage. The Hon. J. A. Hanan said that those who voted against the Bill must take the responsibility of bringing about a disorganised state of things. There had been no option ; the report of the Commission according to the Act of last year had to be brought down. There had been no scheming in regard to the late date of the arrival of the report. He asserted that if the amendment were carried in January next there would be thirteen education boards without districts and seven districts without boards, because the recommendations of the Commissioners automatically, under the Act of last year, unless there was amending legislation, become law. The amendment was defeated by 49 votes to 8. The Bill was then at 4.40 p.m. read a second time. When the Bill reached its Committee stages Mr. M'Callum put up a further fight. He moved at clause 2 that the word nine districts be struck out with a view of inserting ten. He thought it fair that Taranaki, South Canterbury, and Nelson, should be allowed their Education Boards. The amendment was defeated, and the Bill passed through Committee unamended. On the third reading of the Bill Mr. D. Guthrie said that when the division was taken it was obvious that a number of members were under a misapprehension, and he did not think that the vote recorded was the vote of a House that knew exactly what it did. There had been a desire on the part of several members that the number of education districts should be reduced to seven. He thought that a sufficient number of members were in favour of seven districts to carry the vote. Members had thought €hat if the words "nine" were taken out "ten" would require to be substituted, not knowing that- "seven" could also. Messrs. Escott, Payne, and D. Buick said they also favoured seven districts. Mr. Payne moved to recommit the Bill in order that the words nine may be changed to seven. A division was taken and the amendment was lost. The Bill was then read a third time and passed.