EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. W. A. Bodkin, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1934 Session I, I-08

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1934-35. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. W. A. Bodkin, Chairman.)

Laid on the Table of the House of Rejrresentatives.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thubsday, the 12th Day of July, 1934. 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 other matters affecting education which may be referred to it: the Committee to consist of Mr. Atmore, Hon. Mr. McLeod, Mr. Bodkin, Rev. Mr. Carr, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Holland, Mr. de la Perrelle, Mr. Schramm, Mr. Sykes, and the Mover."—(Right Hon. Mr. Fobbes for Hon. Sir Apibana Ngata.) Thubsday, the 26th Day of July, 1934. Ordered, " That all petitions referred to the Public Petitions A to L (Supplementary) Committee and the Public Petitions M to Z (Supplementary) Committee during the session of 1933, and not finally dealt with, be referred to the Public Petitions A to L and M to Z Committees respectively, and that all other petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1933 be again referred to the same Committees as they were referred to during the said session." —(Right Hon. Mr. Fobbes.) Thubsday, the 4th Day of Octobeb, 1934. Ordered, " That the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill be referred to the Education Committee." —(Mr. Holland.) Tuesday, the 16th Day of Octobeb, 1934. Ordered, " That the Education Committee have leave to sit during the present sitting of the House." (Mr. Bodkin.) Tuesday, the sth Day of Mabch, 1935. Ordered, " That the Education Committee, consisting of ten members, be increased (by leave) to eleven members by the addition of the name of the Honourable Mr. Smith."—(Right Hon. Mr. Coates for the Right Hon. Mr. Fobbes.)

INDEX.

No. Petitioner, Ac. Page No. Petitioner, &c. ' Page 173 Anderson, W., and 449 others 3 143 McNaught, G. J., and 16 others 3 116 Andrews, Elsie, and 9 others, represent- 2 .. Religious Instruction in Public Schools 2 ing the New Zealand Women Teachers' Enabling Bill Association (Registered) 295 Russell, G. W. .. .. .. 2 213 Cowan, A. M. .. .. ■ ■ 2 .. Special Report re Chairman .. .. 3 Final Report .. .. .. 3 .. Special Report re Clerk .. .. 3 211 Goodridge, Christina .. .. 2 .. Special Report re Religious Instruction 2 135 Mackenzie, H., and 10 others.. .. 3 in Public Schools Enabling Bill

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REPORTS.

No. 116,—Petition of Elsie Andrews and 9 Others, representing the New Zealand Women Teachers' Association (Registered). Praying for the restoration, without qualification, of the maximum salary of £290 ; for the refund of excess contributions to Superannuation Fund, or other relief. I have the honour to report that, in view of the fact that the Department has undertaken that no loss shall be suffered by the present holders of the positions affected and that the proposed economy shall apply only to future appointments, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 18th September, 1934.

No. 295. —Petition of G. W. Russell, of 305 Main Road, Eastbourne. Praying for compensation in respect of the preparation of a text-book on citizenship for use in public schools and subsequently withheld. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee has carefully considered this petition, and the Committee is satisfied : — (1) That the petitioner wrote this book at the suggestion of the then Minister of Education, Sir James Parr. (2) That although the book was not approved of as a text-book by the Education Department, the Committee is of opinion, having regard to all the circumstances, the petitioner should have been paid for his manuscript. rhe Committee therefore recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 6th March, 1935.

No. 213,—Petition of A. M. Cowan, of Rama Rama, Auckland. Praying that the reports and recommendations of the Education Committee on his petitions of 1928 and 1929 be given effect to. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee has carefully considered this petition, and recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 14th March, 1935.

No. 211,—Petition of Christina Goodridge, of 2 Boyle Crescent, Auckland. Praying for compensation for alleged wrongful dismissal from the service of the Education Department. I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 29th March, 1935.

Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee has carefully considered the above Bill, and recommends that it be not allowed to proceed. 29th March, 1935.

Special Report. I have the honour to report, in connection with the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill, already reported on, that the Committee is of the opinion that the following views, set forth in parliamentary paper 1.-Ba, 1930 (Recess Education Committee Report), should be given effect to " (a) That no system of religious instruction in State schools should be authorized such as will compulsorily require any State teacher to disclose his or her religious beliefs or his or her adherence to any particular denomination, or to take part in religious exercises other than of his or her own free will; but that, on the other hand, the fullest liberty should be given to those teachers who desire of their own accord to assist in the Nelson or any similar system of religious instruction that may be authorized by law. " (b) That the following clause be inserted in the Education Act, 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 advanced, on one day in each week, as agreed upon, for not more than half an hour, in order to 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.' " The Committee recommends that this special report be referred to the Government for consideration. 29th March, 1935.

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No. 135 : Petitions of H. Mackenzie, 42 Kelburn Parade, Wellington, and 10 Others; No. 143, G. J. McNaught, Hutt Valley High School, and 16 Others; No. 173, W. Anderson, University College, Auckland, and 449 Others. Praying that the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill be not passed. I have the honour to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. W. A. Bodkin, Chairman. 29th March, 1935.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee desires to record its appreciation of the care, ability, and tact with which the Chairman, Mr. Bodkin, has conducted the business of the Committee throughout the session ; and it also desires that this resolution shall be recorded on the minutes of the Committee, and be reported to the House. Clyde Carr, Member of Committee. 29th March, 1935.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee desires to record its appreciation of the capable manner in which the Clerk, Mr. M. S. Pasley, has discharged his various duties during the session ; and it also desire that this resolution shall be recorded on the minutes of the Committee and be reported to the House. 29th March, 1935.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee, consisting of eleven members, has held fifteen meetings during the session, with an average attendance of five members. One Bill and fifty-five petitions were referred to the Committee ; of these one Bill and seven petitions were considered and reported on to the House. Forty-eight petitions are held over until next session ; forty-four of these relate to the one subject-matter. W. A. Bodkin, Chairman. 29th March, 1935.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (300 copies), £ii 1;

By Authority: G. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington. —1935. Price 3d.]

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