DEPUTATIONS TO THE MINISTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9212, 15 April 1908, Page 3

DEPUTATIONS TO THE MINISTER.

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS. The chairman of the North Canterbury Educational Board (Mr W. Dalziel), accompanied by the secretary (Mr H. C. Lane) and Mr J. 'Hanna (chairman of the "Wharenui School Committee), waited on the Minister regarding the classification of the Wharenui School. Mr Dalziel pointed out that it was a hardship that the school should remain in Grade 9. It had been opened in January, 1907, and the average attendances for the ensuing quarters had been— March, 109, January 111, September 115, December 144, an average for the year of 120. The mean, average for the last three quarters had been 120. Any other school would have been allowed to substitute the average for the December quarter for on© or the others, and would, have been put m Grade 10, for which an average of 121 to 150 was required. The Department had informed the Board that the school wpuld remain .in Grade 9, and the Board considered this a hardship. Tho Minister said that when the return had been first sent in no explanation had been sent, and this was the first time that it had been, before him. He thought that it would be quite possible to admit the school into Grade 10 within the spirit of the regulations, and this would be done as from January 1 last. Mr Dalziel mentioned difficulties regarding Native schools, referring to the questions of titles and books. The Board had had no information regarding; titles, and the Maoris hfed not paid a~penny for the children's requisites. The Board was doubtful whether such schools could be managed, under European committees. Mr Fowlds said that titles were vested in the Department, and as long as they were held by the Department they should be secure for educational purposes. With regard to theother matters, the Department supplied books m Native schools, but the schools were cleaned by the Natives, and the cast ot the books was a great deal less than tne capitation grant. The simplest method of conducting such schools was for the Board to arrange for the committees to get the cleaning done and arrange for the purchase of books out of the allowance. That was an established cusThe deputation thanked the Minister and withdrew.