SECONDARY SCHOOLS CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10264, 23 January 1895, Page 2

SECONDARY SCHOOLS CONFERENCE.

(Pbb United Fbess Association.)

Chmstchuech, January 22. The Secondary Schools Conference opened this morniuj;. Twelve delegates were present, and tho schools represented were :—Christchurch Boys' High School, Christchurch Girlo' High School, Christ's College, Wellington College, Titnaru High Sshool, Nelson Girl*' College, Wanginui Collegiate School, and Napier Girls' High School. The Hon. W. P. Reeves (Minister for Education) and the Rev. W. J. Habeas (Inspector-general) wera also present. Mr C. 15. Bevan Brown (he*d master uf Christchurch Boys' High School) occupied the chair. Mr Reeves made a. lengthy speech, in which he advocated the widening v far as passible of the sphere of secondary Bchools. The fact that free secondary education was at present an ideal should not check them in trying to extend the benefits of secondary, education aa far as they could possibly be extended. He did cot j think it- a credit to New Zealand that th« i number of New Zealander*'getting the benefit | •of secondary education should be something under 2 per cent, Mr H&bens said therd were considerable difficulties in tho way of having a uniform examination for all secondary schools. He thought that if the atep were determined on, the best plan would he one by which the masters themselves should form a syndicate for the purpose. The following were appointed a committee to consider the Secondary Schools Bill : Mrs ,Foitcr, Miss Gibson, MissFrszar, Metsrs Firth, Hogbea, Bourne, and the chairman. This evening the conference considered tbe Endowed .Schools Bill. It was recommended that the following should bo substituted for clause 3 in the bill:—'"• Subject to the provisions ;of thin act, every endowed school shall afford free education to one scholar for every £75 of annual income derived by the school from endowments made under; the authority of any aofc of the Provincial or General Assembly, including contributions made by school commissioners acting under 'The Education Reserves Act 1877,' provided such income be the net available income after deducting interest on loans aud charges of collection, &c.; that when a scholarship provided by a governing body outof endowments includes proviiion for board in addition to free education each such scholarship shall count for three free places if not less than £30 be granted for board and for two free places if not lsss than £15 be granted, provided that the number of pupils receiving free education shall in no case be less than half the number required by clause 3."