THE HON J. A. HANAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15923, 8 May 1912, Page 10

THE HON J. A. HANAN.

MINISTER OF EDUCATION INTERVIEWED. . SHAKING DOWN INTO OFFICE. , fhe'Hbri' J. A!. Hanan, Minister of Education, passed through Christchiiirph yesterday morning on his way to Invercargill. To-day he will attend, a banquet to Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P., at/Otautau, and will then return to Invercargill ior; a day or two. Coming north again, he will visit the children’s institutions at Otekaike. _ In Christchurch lie is to receive one or two, deputations, but he cannot say when, he . will teach the city, as departmental matters may delay him in the south-.,*- ... ■COMMISSION ON EDUCATION. , Mr-Hauamhgd no.statement to make .•on6erning the report that a Royal Commission on Education would probably be,rsq*t,;upl. .In reply to a question as do theprogrnmmehe. had- mapped out for ' himself ' in his new office, he';'remarked 'that, as • in a large prorate business, so, in a State Department, it was good to have a thorough overhaul at times; but to go into thff whole question of education in NewZealand was a very big order for a coHple of months, when departmental work was pressing. The question was frequently asked, “ Are we getting rajue'kfor. ‘the Tnoney spent on education?” On/that point inquiries might be/made in various directions. The. cost of State education in respect to primary, technical, and ..secondary work, and its relation to efficiency, were subjects on which more light was needed; and. if there were any directions in which a higher standard of efficiency drr better' administration and co-ordin-ation could be secured, they should be followed'/' ‘ ’ The 'powers" possessed ■ by Education : Boards . and other local bodies,"their ‘finance, and possible overlapping and duplication, might profitably be inquired into, as well as in What respects the syllabus could he’ improved; the extension of agricultural instruction j. methods, of teaching in secondary institutions, and of teachers m secondary departments; the appointfnent„„and promotion of teachers, their superannuation/ .'the centralisation of, riiral schools and, the conveyance of children to them; the conditions under which scholarships,apd free places were now obtained. « _ . ' TECHNI#® ;In the North Island, Mr Hanan said, keen taken in tech-, nical education/-and there was a strong desire-‘for classes .in agriculture. Questioned- regarding continuation classes ■Mid technical.. classes, Mr Hanan said "tiiat in Wanganui particularly the attendance was very high, and a deputation bad waited on him urging that regulations should- .he framed. , These Vfere being-considered', but they could not be applied:* to :-thp : whole dominion pt’ once;- as/public": opinion had to be educated on-ith^esbbjeot.

"'FRIdS U[NiyERSITY EDUCATION. , r Discussing-Recent extension of • free uiiiversify,/education, decided on by Cabinet, Mr Hanan remarked that very cautious progress/must be made. Educationists q’hpbad communicated with him on the subject had expressed the warmest approval,, of. -.what had been done. lie hoped that it would be made possible for pupils*-of day technical -schools or thosajtaking'complete eventing courses tfrvgain.i either senior leaving • certificated op,deaving certificates -‘similar* to themjm The higher technical scholarships allowed by the Act were not yet established, but he hoped soon 'that they would be available, gr- f IN THE COUNTRY. /“I do not anticipate a stormy session j”' the Minister said, in reply to iho suggestion..l have heard of stormy . sessions "ever, since I" entered Parlia.‘iri'ent, but . they do not' generally come ,’tb pass./ The kindly expressions of /opinion !' have heard regarding the new Ministry indicate a desire to give the -(Government a fair opportunity.” "v-/Discussing, .jfche police the Minister -kpoke of hi ...the higher positions, and said' that it was probable that Inspector.-Mitchell■ of Dunedin, would bo moved" to Auckland; although nothing had; be eh. decided.