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Vote of Thanks. —On the motion of Mr. T. S. Weston, seconded by Rev. George Barclay, a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Hon. the Minister for his address. Teachers. —Mr. James Aitken thanked the Boards for inviting the teachers to the Conference. Order of Business. —-A discussion took place in regard to the order of business. Finally it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Petrie, seconded by Mr. Fetch, " That a committee be appointed to draw up an Order Paper." The Committee consisted of six members : Rev. George Barclay and Mr. Talbot (Boards), Dr. Anderson and Mr. Goyen (Inspectors), and Messrs. Grundy and Gill (teachers). Mr. Riley, Director of the Wellington Technical School, was invited to attend the Conference. The meeting adjourned till 2 p.m.

Second Session. The Conference resumed at 2 p.m. Minutes. —The minutes of the previous session were read and confirmed. Report of Committee. —Bey. George Barclay reported for the Committee appointed to draw up an Order Paper. Copies of the Order Paper were laid on the table. Correspondence. —The Chairman read a letter from the Secretary of the Southland Educational Institute, pointing out that the notice from the Wanganui Board came too late for the branch to appoint a delegate. Time Limit. —Moved by Mr. Goyen, seconded by Mr. Gill, and carried, " That twenty minutes be allowed to the proposer of any motion and ten minutes to each succeeding speaker." Capitation Grant. —Moved by Mr. T. S. Weston, and seconded by Mr. Goyen, "That the Government; be respectfully moved to increase the capitation grant by the sum of 55." The following amendment was moved by Mr. McAlister, and seconded by Mr. Smith, " That, in the opinion of this Conference, it is desirable to amend the Education Act in the following direction : (a) To abolish the present system of capitation grant; (b) to empower the Governor in Council to make regulations for fixing the capitation allowance payable to Boards throughout the colony upon the average attendance a.t each school, such allowance to be on a graduated scale, the amount per pupil in average attendance being largest in the case of the smaller schools, and becoming less as the average attendance increased." The amendment was carried by 13 to 11. Mr. McAlister's motion being now discussed as a substantive motion, Mr. Grundy moved, and Mr. Aitken seconded, " That the debate be adjourned till 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning." Carried. Mr. Grundy moved, and Mr. Gill seconded, " That a Committee of members of the Boards attending the Conference be appointed to consider the whole question and report." Carried. Deputation from New Zealand Alliance. —Mr. Aitken moved, and Mr. Talbot seconded, " That a deputation from the New Zealand Alliance be received by the Conference at 4 p.m. on Wednesday." Lost. Epidemics. —Mr. T. S. Weston moved, and Mr. Smith seconded, " That in any case when an epidemic breaks out causing a decrease in the teachers' salaries, the capitation grant from the Government should be calculated on the previous year's attendance." Carried. Time of Adjournment. —lt was resolved that the Conference sit till 5.30 p.m. and resume at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning. Amendment of School Attendance Act. —Moved by the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Aitken, and carried, " That the Government be asked to amend section 3 and section 7 of Act, as follows ":— Section 3 to read : " Subject to the provisions of the principal Act, every child between the age of seven years and the age of years is hereby required to attend some public school at least six times a week, and not less than thirty times in four consecutive weeks when the school is open nine times each week, and to make in any one week in which the school is open less than nine times a week, at least two-thirds of the possible number of attendances, morning and afternoon attendances being separately counted : Provided also that the parent of any child may apply for and receive a notice in writing-, hereinafter called ' School Exemption Certificate,' in the form or to the effect of Schedule hereto, &o." School Exemption Oebtificate XJndeb School Attendance Act. Name of school: Name of child : Age of child : Ground of exemption : Period of exemption : Date of certificate : Chairman, or two members School Committee. Section 7 : " When any child required by this Act to attend a public school has been enrolled in the register of a public school, and not having obtained a school exemption certificate, does not attend at least six times in any one week in which the school is open nine times, or fails to make at least thirty attendances in any four consecutive weeks in the course of which the school is open nine times each week, or fails to make at least two-thirds of the number of attendances in any week in the course of which the school is open less than nine times a week," &c. The Conference adjourned till 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Third Session.—Wednesday, 19th July, 1899. The Conference resumed at 10 a.m. The minutes of the previous session were read and confirmed. Beportof Committee on Mr. McAlister's Motion. —Mr. McAlister reported for the committee as follows :— 1. That the limited time at the disposal of your committee renders it impossible for them to prepare such a graduated scale as the importance of this subject demands.

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