EDUCATION AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 9

EDUCATION AFFAIRS.

CHAIRMEN OF BOARDS. SUGGESTED HONORARIUM. AUCKLAND STAFF'S WORK. A suggestion that chairmen of education boards should bo remunerated for their services was made at last night's meeting of the Auckland Education Board. Mr. A. Burns brought the matter forward by remarking that he thought chairmen of education boards should receive an honorarium. Mayors and chairmen of harbour boards received them, but he did not think that these officials had the work to perform equal to that of a chairman of an education board. The speaker paid a tribute to tho work of Mr. G. J. Garland (chairman of the Auckland board). He thought education board* should have the privilege of granting honoraria to their chairmen. Chairmen of education boards should not have to devote their time to educational matters without remuneration. The boards of education were more important than any other boards in the Dominion, and they should have the right of voting honoraria to their chairmen. Tho speaker also said that he would like to see schools in the Auckland district— which had a sub-tropical climate at 8 a.m. and close at 1 p.m. A suggestion to this effect could lie tried in the month of February. If it were successful it could be carried on in March also. Mr. E. C. Purdie supported the suggestion made by Mr. Burns. He thought the work of the "chairman (Mr. G. J. Garland) was of exceedingly great importance. Mr. Garland had done his work admirably. In regard to the suggestion that schools should open and terminate lessons earlier, as suggested by Mr. Bums, Mr. E. K. Mulgan (chief inspector) said that the board had already power to do this. He sympathised with th« suggestion of Mr. Burns. He also thought a compromise should be mado in the direction of allowing small children to leave school earlier than older children. Barents had found it inconvenient for schools to open at halfpast eight, and, in his opinion, nine o'clock was a much more suitable time than half-past nine o'clock. Mr. W. Auld endorsed the complimentary remarks which had been made regarding.Mr. Garland's work. On behalf of national education lie considered that tho chairman of the Auckland Education Board, and also the chairmen of other education boards, should be remunerated for the work they did on behalf of the rising generation. _ -Mr. J. D. McKenzie supported the remarks made by the previous speakers. Mr. Garland expressed his thanks to the members of the board for the very kind and generous manner in which they had referred to himself. It was a pleasure to him to preside over the meetings of the board. "In regard to the honorarium," said Mr. Garland, "this might be a position that would be sought after by ' officeseekers' and 'political doadbeats,' who would like' to get into this board." There were some men of this desciiption who got into Parliament, but there had been a great deal better work done in the past by men without an honorarium. At his heart was the interest of the children of the province, and he would always do his best for them so long as he was connected with the board. He thanked the members for their kind expressions regarding himself, and he desired to put on record his keen appreciation of the capabilities' and support 'of the board's staff. Mr. Burns moved, "That this board urge the Minister to include in his proposed amendment of the Education Act, a clause enabling education boards to vote an honorarium for their chairmen." The resolution was carried unanimously. It was decided that a committee consisting of the chairman, the chief inspector, and Mr. Burns, should be set up to report at the next meeting of the board regarding the proposal to open and close schools at earlier hours. -Mr. Auld paid a tribute to the work of the inspectorial staff, and also to the board's teachers. Messrs. E. K. Mulgan (chief inspector) and R. Crowe (secretary) returned thanks on behalf of the inspectors and teachers tnd the office staff, respectively.