FIXING SCHOOL HOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13724, 14 April 1908, Page 6

FIXING SCHOOL HOURS.

APPEAL COURT ARGUMENT. I'BT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Monday. The case of Bruce and others versus the Wanganui Education Board, with reference i to school hours, was continued to-day in the Court of Appeal. Mr. Skerrett (for the respondents) contended that the argument submitted for the appellants carried to its logical conclusion would reduce the position of Education Boards to an extent never contemplated by the Act. The whole scheme of the Act was that the Board should be the dominant power, and, where powers were given to committees, they were either minor powers, or special powers to be exercised subject- to the sanction of the Board. As to section 124, the words "As herein provided" referred only to the powers of inspectors, not to the powers of Boards. If a committee had power to fix school hours without the control of the Board there would be a want of uniformity In school hours in various school districts under the control of the Board. Section 137 of the Act showed that the Board was intended to have control of school hours. Mr. Hutton also addressed the Court on behalf of the respondents, and Mr. Myers had begun his reply when the Court adjourned. J