POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXII, Issue 13575, 22 October 1904, Page 9

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Oop.REsroxDE.NT.] WELLINGTON, October 21. SECONDARY SCHOOLS, The Education Committee reporting to the Hc-ure on the subject of secondary schools recommended :—That any pupil of a school in charge of a sole teacher who has obi aired a certificate of proficiency, although over the age of fourteen yeans, may if he be specially recommended as worthy of exceptional consideration by such, sole teacher be admitted to a, free place, subject, however, to tho adoption of ouch recommendation by tinc governing body. That tins committee having carefully examine.! the question of free admission’ into the secondary schools finds that the regulations controlling the examination for such a-dmissiorw have not been generally brought into operation, and. therefore, they recommend that a fair trial be given to these regulations before considering th® question of an alteration of age. Tho committee recommends that a sum should bo placed upon the Estimates to be appropriated under section. 12 of the Secondary Schools Act, 1903, ( to provide for the erection, acquisition or equipment of new buildings for secondary schools, but that great caro should be exercised’ ini disposing of the' appropriation in view of the fact tint it will not be easy to judge tho necessity for additional accommodation until tho regulations,' have been in force for some time. A motion by Mr T. Mackenzie that the report should be referred back to the committee' in order that they may recommend that pupils over fourteen years of age who had passed the Sixth standard shall not be barred from obtaining free secondary education was not agreed! to. SCHOOL BOOKS. The Education Committee, owing to the many subjects of importance pressing upon their attention this ression, have not had an opportunity of dealing with the question of the books in use in the State schools. The subject, however, is, the committee reports one which, will receive the fullest consideration at its hands in) the course of next year. LAND SETTLEMENT. Mr Hogg has given notice to- ask the Government (1) If they arc prepared to deal with a. system of family “ dummyism” which is said to be on the increase, under which owners of estates eligible for close settlement are enabled! by dividing them into holdings of 1000 to 5000 acres each, and transferring these holdings to relatives to prevent their compulsory acquisition under the provision, of the Land for Settlements Act; fiord are also able to recur© substantial exemptions from land tax? (2) If they will introduce legislation requiring that When estates are treated in tho way referred to tho holdings mui* be separately worked and occupied?