EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE). (Mr. G. M. THOMSON, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1912 Session II, I-13

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Session 11. 1912. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE). (Mr. G. M. THOMSON, Chairman.)

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

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 2nd Day of August, 1912. 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, manual instruction, and such other matters affecting education as may be referred to it; to have power to call for papers and persons ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Malcolm, Hon. Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. Poland, Mr. Sidey, Mr. Statham, Mr. G. M. Thomson, Mr. J. C. Thomson, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Allen.) Wednesday, the 7th Day of August, 1912. Ordered, " That all petitions not finally dealt with during session 1911 be referred to the same Committees as they were referred to during the said session ; and all petitions presented during Session I, 1912, be referred to the Petitions Classification Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Massey.) Wednesday, the 14th Day of August, 1912. Ordered, " That the petition of M. M. Kiharoa and others be referred to the Education Committee."—(Mr. Young.) Wednesday, the 4th Day of September, 1912. Ordered, " That the name of Mr. McCallum be substituted for that of the Hon. Mr. T. Mackenzie on the Education Committee." —(Hon. Mr. Allen.) Thursday, the 3rd Day of October, 1912. Ordered, " That the report of the Education Commission be referred to the Education Committee for consideration." —(Hon. Mr. Allen.) Monday, the 21st Day of October, 1912. Ordered, "That parliamentary paper No. 320, Report by.the Inspector-General of Schools on the University Colleges of New Zealand, be referred to the Education Committee."—(Hon. Mr Allen.)

INDEX.

No. Petitioner, &t. Page. No. Petitioner, &c. Page. L 34 Blackett, George 2 166 Law, James K. 2 Conveyance of children to and from country schools 2 6 Mellsop, E. L. 2 224 3 330 McDonald, Kenneth 3 Driver, Annie J. P., and others.. 219 Otago University professorial staff 146 Deck, Dr. Henry, and others 3 3 4 Report of Royal Commission 4 Education Amendment Bill 190 Garland, H. N. 2 University Colleges of New Zealand 3 237 Walker, Thomas 3 329 Holland, H, and others 3 20 Young, James, and others 2 281 (1911 Kiharoa, M. M. 2

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REPORTS.

No. 20.—Petition of James Young and 33 Others. Praying that the New South Wales system of religious teaching in schools be introduced by a Referendum Bill. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on this petition. 23rd August, 1912.

No. 6. —Petition of Emma Lascelles Mellsop, of Devonport, Auckland. Praying that her name be placed on the list of those receiving superannuation. I am diiected to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on this petition. 23id August, 1912.

No. 34.—Petition of George Blackett, of Raglan, Auckland. Praying that he may be admitted to the benefits of superannuation. 1 am directed to report that, in view of the fact that the discretionary power vested in the Teachers' Superannuation Board, under section 225, subsection (1), of the Education Act, 1908, was taken away by the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act, 1908, without notice, the question of giving these benefits to the petitioner, and to those similarly situated, be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. A further option of six months within which to join the Superannuation Fund being recommended. 23rd August, 1912.

No. 166. —Petition of James K. Law. Claiming overdue house allowance in connection with the Aramoho Public School. I am directed to report that in the opinion of this Committee the petitioner is entitled to the amount claimed by him for house allowance, but that he has no claim against the Government, the matter being one between him and the Wanganui Education Board. 17th September, 1912.

No. 281 (1911).—Petition of M. M. Kiharoa and 49 Others. Praying for a grant of £1,300 for extension and maintenance of the Native College at Otaki. I am directed to report that the member in charge of this petition having intimated his desire to have the same withdrawn, the Committee recommends that the petition be withdrawn accordingly. 17th September, 1912.

No. 190. —Petition of Henry N. Garland. Praying for compensation for loss of office as Secretary to the School Commissioners in the Auckland Provincial District. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a recommendation that the petitioner be paid sixmonths' salary (less one month already received). Further, the Committee suggests that the Government arrange for the payment of this amount out of the funds accruing from the reserves dealt with by the late School Commissioners at Auckland. 17th September, 1912.

Report on a Memorandum of the Education Department referring to the System and Cost of Conveyance of Public-school Children to and from Country Schools. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this memorandum be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 19th September, 1912.

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No. 224. —Petition of Annie J. P. Driver and 24 Others. Praying that training hostels be established in connection with technical schools. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 19th September, 1912.

No. 237. —Petition of Thomas Walker. Praying for compensation in respect of extra work and money spent by him while Manager of the Boys' Training Farm at Weraroa. I am directed to report that the Education Committee has no recommendation to make on this petition. 27th September, 1912.

No. 219.—Petition of the Otago University Professorial Staff (per P. Marshall, Chairman). I am directed to report that, having considered the petition of the professorial staff of the University of Otago, and the report and evidence of the Government Actuary thereon, the Committee recommends that the definition of " Education service " in section 2 of the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act, 1908, be amended by the addition of the following paragraph : — " (c.) Under the governing body of the University of New Zealand, Auckland University College, Victoria College, Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College, and the University of Otago." And that the benefits c.f the Teachers' Superannuation Fund be extended to persons included in the foregoing paragraph on the following terms : — (1.) Pensions for future service shall be at the rate of sixtieth for each year of service, based on the average salary for the three years previous to retirement. (2.) Pensions for back service shall be at the late of one one-hundred-and-twentieth. (3.) The maximum pension shall be £300 per annum. (4.) Persons now in the service shall have an option to join the fund, exercisable within six months, but it shall be obligatory on all future entrants to join the fund. (5.) In cases where under an agreement with a governing body any person is entitled to an allowance on retirement, such person shall not receive both such allowance and a retiring-allowance under the Teachers' Supeiannuation Fund, but the retiringallowance under the fund shall be accepted in satisfaction, or 'pro tanto satisfaction, of the allowance payable under such agreement; and in such cases the governing body may on behalf of such person exercise his option to join the fund and may pay his contribution thereto out of its ordinary revenue. 11th October, 1912.

No. 330.—Petition of Kenneth McDonald. Praying that he be granted sixtieths in lieu of one-hundred-and-twentieths for his superannuation. J am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on this petition.

23rd October, 1912. No. 146. —Petition of Dr. Henry Deck and 122 Others. Praying for grant of £1,000 for erection of school in brick at Motueka. 1 am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that the Department's offer is adequate. 23rd October, 1912".

No. 329.—Petition of Mrs. H. Holland and 30 Others. Praying that domestic economy be taught and training hostels established at technical high schools. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 23rd October, 1912.

Report of the Inspector-General of Schools on the University Colleges of New Zealand. I am directed to report that the Education Committee, to whom was referred the report of the Inspector-General of Schools on the University Colleges of New Zealand, has the honour to report that the time at the disposal of the Committee is inadequate for the due consideration of this report, and the Committee recommends that consideration of the same be held over till the commencement of next session. 29th October, 1912.

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Report of the Royal Commission on Education. I am directed to report that the Education Committee, to whom was referred the report of the Royal Commission on Education recently appointed by His Excellency the Governor, has the honour to report that the evidence taken by the Commission is not yet printed in full and will not be available this session; and the Committee, being unable to satisfactorily deal with the findings of the Commission without having before it the whole of the evidence on which these findings were based, recommends that consideration of the Commission's report be deferred until next session. 29th October, 1912.

Education Amendment Bill. I am directed to report that the Education Committee, to whom was referred the Education Amendment Bill, has duly considered the same, and resolved that it be reported to the House without amendment, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as printed. 4th November, 1912. Approximate Cost 0/ Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,400 copies), £2 17s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l2. Price 3d.)