Page 5 Advertisements Column 1

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6928, 31 January 1884, Page 5

Mr. Adam Porter, who is a candidate for election to the Board of Education, has issued a circular to the committee, in which he states:— Till lately it would have been a very serious pecuniary tax on any individual choßen by a country committee to hold a seat at the Board ; and, although travelling expanses are now allowed, the tax required on time is almost prohibitory; however, being now resident in Auckland, and 7et a frequent visitor to country districts, and willing to devote tho necessary tin.e to Board meetings, 1 am in a posit'on to repre* sent with practical and personal knowledge the special needs of country districts. My opinion is that school committees were never intended merely to be guardians of the Board's property and supervisors of cleanliness, but rather from their knowledge of local wants to be the administrators of the Act. . . In the general action of the Board, I believe unnecessary interference with the local committees should bo avoided, and forvuch an important position as that of Chairman of the Board, practical knowledge and experience are to be proferred to merely doctrinaire views. I attach considerable importance to physical education in the schools, but would carefully avoid converting them into military training institutions, especially when the time so occupied must be taken out of what should be devoted to more profitable study; and. above all, would avoid increasing expense in tho direction indicated—a point to be closgly watched, as there is a tendency so to swell expenditure as to break down the public school system by its own weight—a contingency more to be guarded against that any attempts threatened by the advocates of denominational teaching. The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society (Limited) has a valuable addition to the strength of its Dunedin Board, the Hon. George Mc Lean having joined the directorate. The society is now prepared to transact business throughout the colony, and under Mr. Lyairs experienced management its operations should not be less successful in New Zealand than in the other colonies where the Colonial Mutual Society has long been noted for. its well organised energy and enterprise. We note that Mr. IS. J, bponce (Dalgety and Co.) has been elected Chairman of the Dunedin Board.