E.—lc

22

The following resolutions of a more general scope were also adopted:— 1. That it is desirable that a new " Flora of New Zealand " should be prepared and published under the auspices of the Government, and that a deputation be appointed to wait upon the Premier to urge upon him the need of taking action in this direction. 2. That school libraries be established in all schools, as a means of fostering a taste for reading. 3. That arrangements be made for revising the classification of teachers on some such basis as the following If for three years in succession a local Inspector assigns to a teacher lower marks for efficiency than he has before received, the Inspector-General of Schools, or another Inspector acting as his deputy, shall see the teacher's work, and decide whether his marks are to be lowered or left unchanged, when, if the marks are lowered by the Inspector-General or his deputy, the teacher's classification shall also be lowered. 4. That clause 16 of the regulations pertaining to teachers' certificates be amended so as to read " Subject to the operation of Begulations 5, 6, 7, and 8, graduates of the University of New Zealand in first- or second-class honours, or those who are qualified for first- or second-class honours, on passing the M.A. examination, be admitted to class A without further examination. 5. That there be one pupil-teacher system for the colony, and one annual examination. 6. That the opening of evening continuation schools in the larger towns and centres of population would supply a much felt want. 7 That the Senate of the University of New Zealand be recommended to add to their course of instruction subjects which will induce the various University College Councils to establish lectureships on education. 8. That steps be taken to establish a central department of science and art, to encourage and foster a more thorough treatment of science in the primary schools, and for the furtherance of technical education. In closing our report we desire to say that the members of the Conference have for years felt that such a meeting as that now concluded was desirable, and they are gratified at the action of the Minister in convening their first assembly The indirect benefits derived by the members in personally coming in touch with one another, by the insight gained into the working methods of operation in the several educational districts, and by the discussion of the many matters of detail during the long sessions of six days' duration, have practically done as much to lead to approximate uniformity of examination as the resolutions included in this report will do if given effect to by you as Minister of Education. We have, &c, Bobert Lee, H. Hill, L. B. Wood, Committee appointed by the Conference to present this report to the Minister of Education. The Hon. W P Beeves, Minister of Education, Wellington.

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