EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. SIDEY, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1909 Session II, I-13

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1909. NEW ZEALAND

EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. SIDEY, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Feiday, the Bth Day of October, 1909. Ordered, " That a Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all matters relating to schoolteachers, education, and public instruction generally, public-school training of teachers, higher education, technical education and manual instruction, and such other matters affecting education as may be referred to it; to have power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Allen, Mr. Baume, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Luke, Mr. Sidey, Mr. Stallworthy, Mr. G. M. Thomson, Mr. J. C. Thomson, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Fowlds.)

INDEX.

No. Name. Page. No. Name. Page. 38 Astley, Ellen 4 29 391 Madigan, Patrick Menzies, James Kerr Musicians Bill, New Zealand Society of .. 3 2 2 390 Bromley, Henry 2,3 Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Amendment Bill 4 347 McLeod, John, and 7 others 2,3 2 New Zealand Society of Musicians Bill 2 180 Ellis, Howard J. S. .. Phillips, J., and 33 others 2 307 Finlayson, J. A., and 13 others 2, 3 252 253 Quested, C, and 44 others 2 5 Harrison, Ada 3 294 12 Watkins, E., and 456 others Wilmot, George 2, 3 2 6 Kerr, Walter 3 39 Lovatt, Mary 4

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EEPOETB. New Zealand Society of Musicians Bill. The Education Committee have the honour to report that, having carefully considered the New Zealand Society of Musicians Bill, referred to them by your honourable House, the Committee recommend that the said Bill be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments in the Bill attached hereto. 10th November, 1909. No. 390. —Petition of Henry Bromley. (No. 1.) Petitioner represents that he was overseer of the Boys' Training Farm, Weraroa, Levin ; that he was wrongfully dismissed from his position; and he makes a series of charges against the management of the institution, and prays that he may receive compensation for pecuniary loss sustained. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Henry Bromley that they have no recommendation to make. 23rd November, 1909. Nos. 294, 307, and 347. —Petitions of E. Watkins and 456 Others, J. A. Finlayson and 13 Others, and John McLeod and 7 Others. Petitioners pray that the privilege of travelling free on the railways to attend classes may be continued to teachers of schools under the Education Department. The Education Department have the honour to report on the petitions of E. Watkins and others, J. A. Finlayson and others, and John McLeod and others, that in the opinion of the Committee they should be referred to the Government for consideration. 23rd November, 1909. No. 12.—Petition of George Wilmot. Petitioner represents that he is a retired school-teacher, having served under the Education Department for twenty-one years; that he was compelled through blindness to resign his position; and that, having been excluded from participation in the benefits of the Teachers' Superannuation Act, he prays that a compassionate allowance may be granted him. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of George Wilmot that they have no recommendation to make. 23rd November, 1909. Nos. 252 and 253.—Petitions of J. Phillips and 33 Others and C. Quested and 44 Others. Petitioners allege that Nightcaps School is overcrowded, and pray that more adequate accommodation be provided. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petitions of J. Phillips and others and C. Quested and others that they have no recommendation to make. 23rd November, 1909. No. 180.- —Petition of Howard J. S. Ellis. Petitioner, who is head teacher of Aoroa School, Northern Wairoa, prays that a reduction made in his salary be refunded. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Howard J. Ellis that they have no recommendation to make. 23rd November, 1909. No. 391.—Petition of James Kerr Menzies. Petitioner represents that he has served as a teacher under the Otago Board of Education for thirty years, and is now fifty-five years of age; that when the Teachers' Superannuation Act came into force he could not afford to join it, having a large family to maintain and certain other pecuniary engagements to meet. He now prays to be admitted to the benefits of the fund, and is prepared to pay arrears of premiums and interest thereon. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of James Kerr Menzies that they recommend that the enactment of provisions similar to those contained in subsections (1) and (2), section 225, of " The Education Act, 1908," be referred to the Government for consideration. 23rd November, 1909.

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No. s.—Petition of Ada Harrison. Petitioner represents that she was dismissed from the position of day-school teacher at Te Oranga Home for reasons that were insufficient and unsupported after live years' good service, and prays that she may be reinstated in her former position at the Home, or that she be given an equal position in the Civil Service. The Committee, having carefully considered the petition of Miss Ada Harrison, late day-school teacher at Te Oranga Home, and the evidence taken in relation thereto, are of opinion,— 1. That the petitioner is fully qualified for the position of an ordinary public-school teacher. 2. That the conditions at Te Oranga Home were not those of an ordinary public school, and the petitioner did not adapt herself to the special requirements of the institution. 3. That it was essential to the good government of the institution that a change should be made, and the Department were fully justified in removing the petitioner. 4. That the petitioner's removal was not arbitrary or unjust, and was not the outcome of her evidence given at the inquiry before Commissioner Bishop. 5. That the positions which might be offered to the petitioner by the Department were limited, and she was offered the best at the disposal of the Department—namely, that of teacher of the Native school at Karioi, with a salary of £150 a year and house. 6. That the Inspector-General in his evidence intimated that he was willing to give a testimonial to the petitioner recommending her to any Education Board for employment. The Committee recommend that such a testimonial be given to petitioner, and, further, that the Department should, if any suitable vacancy arises, offer the position to the petitioner. 9th December, 1909. Noe. 294, .JO7, and 347.—Petitions of E. Watkins and 456 Others, J. A. Finlayson and 13 Others, and John McLeod and 7 Others. (No. 2.) Petitioners pray that the privilege of travelling free on the railways to attend classes may be continued to teachers of schools under the Education Department. Having further considered these petitions, and evidence thereon, the Committee are of opinion that they should be referred to the favourable consideration of the Government, subject to the imposition of such safeguards against abuse as may be considered necessary. 9th December, 1909. No. 6.—Petition of Walter Kerr. Petitioner represents that he is mathematical and science master in the Napier Boys' High School, and an original contributor under the regulations for teachers' superannuation, but is excluded from its benefits because his application for admission was not made within the specified time. He now prays to be allowed to remain under the regulations for teachers' superannuation. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Walter Kerr that in their opinion it should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 14th December, 1909. No. 390. —Petition of Henry Bromley. (No. 2.) Petitioner represents that he was farm-overseer of the Boys' Training Farm, Weraroa, Levin; that he was wrongfully dismissed from his position; and he makes a series of charges against the management of the institution, and prays that he may receive compensation for pecuniary loss sustained. The Education Committee have the honour to report that, having further considered the petition of Henry Bromley, they have no recommendation to make. 14th December, 1909". No. 29. —Petition of Patrick Madican. Petitioner represents that he married a widow named Mrs. Noyer, who subsequently became insane, and was committed to the Mental Hospital, Auckland; that at the time of her marriage with him she had a boy living with her whom petitioner believed was her child by a previous husband; that the boy was committed to a Home; and, petitioner having since discovered that the boy was the illegitimate child of another woman, and had been adopted by his wife, he prays to be relieved from contributing to his maintenance. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Patrick Madigan that in their opinion the Education Department should cause such inquiries to be made as will enable the Committee to judge of the truth of the allegations contained in the petition. 14th December, 1909.

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No. 38 (1908).—Petition of Ellen Astlby. Petitioner represents that she was for eighteen years a teacher under the Auckland Board of Education, and through ignorance of the terms of the Teachers' Superannuation Act she missed the opportunity of participating in its benefits, and now prays she may be put on the footing of an original member. . . The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Ellen Astley that in their opinion it should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 14th December, 1909. No. 39 (1908). —Petition of Mary Lovatt. Petitioner represents that she was for thirty-one years a teacher under the Auckland Board of Education ; that through ignorance of the terms of the Teachers' Superannuation Act she missed the opportunity of being included in its benefits j and she prays that she may be put on the footing of an original member. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition ot Mary Lovatt that in their opinion it should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 14th December, 1909. Cante-rbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Amendment Bill. The Education Committee, to whom was referred the above-mentioned Bill, have the honour to report that, having carefully considered the same, they recommend that the Bill, as printed, beallowed to proceed. 14th December, 1909.

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