THE NEW EDUCATION BILL

Marlborough Express, Volume XI, Issue 831, 12 July 1876, Page 4

THE NEW EDUCATION BILL

We have prepared a brief abstract of the new Education Bill, now before Parliament. The main features of the Bill are as follows : — There are to be constituted ten Provincial districts, namely Auckland. Hawkes Bay, Welliugton, Nelson, Marlborough, Westlaud, New Plymouth, and Patea ; and if it be found necessary hereafter, the Governor may Subdivide each' or any of them, giving 16 each division a Central Board, as m the Provincial Districts, after making a fair apportionment of the assets and liabilities of each, including reserves, and m the event of any dispute between the several Boards the matter is to bo referred to the Commissioners of Audit. In each Provincial District will be a Central Board of Education, the first members of which are designated m the Act, as regards most of the districts. Those for Marlborough are Capt. W. D. H. Baillie and Messrs W. E. Dive, . C. Goulter, J. E. Hodson, H. A. Ingles, E. Paul, John T. Robinson, A. P. Seymour and J. Ward. Such Boards are to hold office till Ist February next, and m case any of them refuse, neglect, or be unwilling to .act. the Governor may appniut othev gentlemen to fill up the number. From and after the date named the Board will consist of two persons nominated by the Governor, one by the Judge of the Supreme Court for the district, and not fewer- than 5 nor more than 12 persons to be elected. In the case of Marlborough the number to be elected is fivp, two by the electoral district of Picton, and three by that of Wairau with the portion of Cheviot within the Province. The voters will be those persona whose names are on the electoral roll, together with holders of miners' rights or business licenses. No person is to vote on more than one qualification, and the voting will be by ballot. The members of the Board will ietire triennially on Ist February. Each Board will be a body corporate, and all monies, land, or other property now vested m similar bodies, and all powers, duties, &c, imposed by any Provincial Act, shall, on the couoing into force of this Act, be vested m the new Boards. The rules and regulations of existing boards will also remain m f.-rce, although the Board will have power to make fresh regulations. The first meeting, and the place where it is to be held, \gill be fixed by the Governor, but afterwards by the Board. At least one meeting must be held m pvery month after the first. Three members will form a quorum. Seven days notice is to be given of the meetings. At the first meeting the Chairman is to be elected. The Board will hold a general supervision over all public schools m the district, and promote the establishment of new oneß, and as near as circumstances will admit m accordance with the Acts hitherto m force. The powers at present held by School Committees are to be continued, and such Committees-will have the same relation to the. Boards as under the existing law. There is to be a Minister of Education, and as many Inspectors as the Governor may see fit to appoint, and all public schools are to be examined once at least every year. The Boards are to make provision for the following purposes ; namely, (1) Salaries connected with the administration of the Board ; (2) purchasing, renting, or erecting school sites and building schools, and play grounds ; or improving them ; (3) Teachers' salaries, and bonuses ; (4) Establishment and maintenance of normal or model schools ; (5) Scholarships ; (6) School libraries ; and (7) all necessary expenses of carrying out the Act. The Act is to come into operation on ths first day after the present session, from which time all rates are to be abolished, with the exception of thoße already levied, and m arrear. From January 1, 1877, all capitation rates are to cease, but parents of children attendin'.', or not being exempt, being between the ages of 7 and 15 years, shall pay to the local School C unmittee £1 annually for each child, but not m >re than £3 m the whole for one family. All children between 7 and 1 5 are to attend school not less than 75 days m each half-year, unless a reasonable excuse is given ; such as attending another school, sickness, resident above two mile 3 from a school, or holding a certificate of efficiency from au Inspector. Offences against this portion of the Act will be visited on parents by a fine of not exceeding 5s for the first offence, and 20s afterwards, or committal to prison for seven days. Each Board must send m a report yearly to t'le Minister for Education, containing full and explicit information regarding each school. Each School Committee are to make a similar rnporfc whenever called upon to do so by the Minister or the Board. Power is also given to the Governor to place under the control of the Borad any public library, mechanics institute or museum, for the administration of which no adequate provision has been made.