EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Colonel T. W. McDONALD, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1931 Session I-II, I-08

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1931. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Colonel T. W. McDONALD, Chairman.)

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

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 21st Day of July, 1931. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all matters relating to school-teachers, 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 persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Black, Mr. Bodkin, Rev. Clyde Carr, Mr. Eraser, Mr. H. Holland, Colonel McDonald, the Hon. Mr. Stallworthy, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Young, and the Mover."— (Hon. Mr. Atmorb.) Friday, the 31st Day op July, 1931. Ordered, " That the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill be referred to the Education Committee." —(Mr. H. Holland.) Tuesday, the 11th Day of August, 1931. Ordered, " That the New Zealand Institute of Architects Amendment Bill be referred to the Education Committee." —(Mr. Wright.)

INDEX.

No. Petitioner, <lc. Page. | 58 Atkinson, A. R., and another .. .. 2 17 Barber, Mrs. Norah V. .. .. 1 Final report.. .. .. .. 2 85 Hayes, H., and 500 others .. .. 2 65 Murdoch, A., and another .. .. 2 Report on Religious Instruction in Public 2 Schools Enabling Bill

No. Petitioner, &c. Page. Special report (re Hon. H. Atmore) .. 2 I .. Special report (re Chairman) .. 2 Special report (re Clerk) .. .. 2 94 Warner, Mrs. Margaretj .. .. 2

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EEPOBTS.

No. 17 (Sess. 2).—Petition of Mrs. Norah V. Barber, of Rotorua. Praying for an increased pension from the Teachers' Superannuation Eund. I am directed to report that, in view of the fact that the petitioner's husband died only nine months before he would have been entitled to superannuation, the Committee recommends that the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 7th November, 1931. •

No. 65 (Sess. 2). —Petition of A. Murdoch, President, New Zealand Educational Institute (Reg.), and Another. Praying for the restoration of remote allowances to school-teachers. I am directed to report that the Committee recognizes that some places which were formerly remote have now ceased to be so, and for these places remote allowance would not be justified ; but, as other places are still remote, the Committee is of opinion that each case should be reconsidered with a view to the payment of the allowance where justified. The Committee therefore recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 7th November, 1931.

No. 58.—Petition of A. R. Atkinson, Solicitor, Wellington, and 8 Others. Praying that the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill be not passed, and that the petitioners may be heard. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the prayer of the petitioners should be given effect to. 7th November, 1931.

No. 85.—Petition of H. Hayes, 577 Manukaa Road, Epsom, and 500 Others. Praying for the rejection of the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the prayer of the petitioners should be given effect to. 7th November, 1931.

No. 94 (Sess. 2). —Petition of Mrs. Margaret Warneb, of Lower Hutt. Praying for compensation for alleged loss of position in the Education Department. I am directed to report that in view of the fact that the petitioner is entitled to apply for any vacancy in New Zealand as a teacher the Committee has no recommendation to make. 7th November, 1931.

Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill. I have the honour to report that the Committee, having carefully considered the above Bill and heard evidence thereon, recommends that it be not allowed to proceed, because in the opinion of the Committee the question can be met by the insertion in the Education Act of the following clause, namely : — " Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the principal Act or in any direction given by the Board, if accredited persons approved by the Minister desire to give moral and religious instruction of a voluntary nature in school-buildings, the ordinary opening-hour of the school shall be postponed, or the ordinary closing-hour in the afternoon shall be j advanced, on one day in each week, as agreed upon, for not more than half an hour, in orderto enable the instruction to be conveniently given : ; " Provided that no alteration shall be made in the opening or closing hours which would reduce the number of hours to be devoted on that day to secular instruction to less than the minimum of four hours fixed by the principal Act." 7th November. 1931,

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Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education desires to place on record its high appreciation of the conspicuous services rendered by the Hon. H. Atmore during his term of office as Minister of Education to the cause of education, and its sincere regret that the formation of a Coalition Government resulted in his vacating that office. The Committee trusts that the services of the Minister as such will not be long lost to New Zealand, and that the recommendations of the report associated with his name will shortly be given effect to. 21st October, 1931. T. W. McDonald, Chairnwi.

Special Report; I have the honour to report that the Education Committee desires to record its hearty appreciation of the great care and attention devoted by the Chairman, Colonel McDonald, to the business of the Committee, and the able and courteous manner in which the witnesses were dealt with. It further desires that this resolution shall be recorded on the minutes of the Committee, and reported to the House. 7th November, 19-3.1. H. Holland, Member of Committee.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee desires to record its satisfaction at the efficiency and courtesy shown by the Clerk, Mr. M. S. Pasley, in the discharge of his various duties during the session ; and it also desires that this resolution shall be recorded on the minutes of the Committee, and be reported to the House. 7th November, 1931. T. W. McDonald, Chairman.

Final Eeport. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee, consisting of ten members, has held fourteen meetings, with an average attendance of seven members. The Committee has had before it for consideration the following business : Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill and the New Zealand Institute of Architects Amendment Bill (no report), together with two petitions thereon, containing 508 signatures, and three miscellaneous petitions. 7th November, 1931. T. W. McDonald, Chairman.

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