c.—id

4

in such a school, provided that, with the consent of the Board, manual occupations may be substituted for geography on condition that geographical readers be used throughout the classes concerned as supplementary reading-books. " 12. That in all other schools drawing and geography be likewise regarded as obligatory classsubjects, and that such schools take up throughout the classes one other class-subject selected from the groups, History and social economy, science and object-lessons, and manual occupations, provided, that in classes below Standard 111. object-lessons and manual occupations be both included, and that in Standards 111. to VI. a history reading-book be used as a supplementary reader in any class or classes in which history is not taken as a class-subject. " 13. That, in reference to the promotions provided for in Resolutions 7 and 8, it be regarded as no reproach to a teacher if in any one year he fails to promote more than 75 per cent, of his pupils in each of the classes Standard 111. to Standard VI., provided that the remainder give evidence of having received a fair share of attention, and have made fair progress towards the requirements for promotion." After Dr. Anderson had spoken, Mr. Scott moved the adjournment of the debate till 2.30 p.m.

The Conference resumed at 2.30 p.m. Dr. Anderson's notices of motion were laid on the table. Abolition of Standard Pass. —Mr. J. G. Lawrence Scott resumed the debate on Mr. Grundy's motion. Amendment: Mr. T. 8. Weston moved, and Eev. George Barclay seconded :— "1. That, as an academical principle, the method of examining schools which imposes upon the Inspector the sole duty of estimating in general terms, with more or less of detail, the character of the instruction and the adequacy and suitability of the educational arrangements as against the principle the application of which requires the Inspector to inquire into the proficiency of individual pupils as regards either their average attainments in a standard programme or their individual attainments in separate subjects, be approved. " 2. That the Conference, however, recognises the benefits the existing ' pass ' arrangements have in the past conferred upon the country, especially as to their efficiency in checking the con.tinuance of inferior work where the general sense of the local community is not sufficiently elevated to place good educational results before personal considerations in various forms; and recognises, further, the difficulty under certain circumstances of making a general-estimate system equally effective. " 3. That, in consequence, the Conference finds itself in a position to recommend only to a limited extent the general adoption of a system of examination which, while encouraging a better type of instruction under favourable circumstances, may in a proportion of schools, varying with the educational progress of the community, endanger the securities an individual system provides." After a lengthy debate the amendment was lost. Ayes, 10: Messrs. Anderson, Barclay, Bindon, Bridge, Fetch, Gow, Lee, McWhirter, Morton, and Weston. Noes, 16 : Messrs. Aitken, Bird, Dempsy, Garrow, Gill, Goyen, Grundy, Hendry, Johnson, Ladley, McAlister, MacGregor, Petrie, Smith, Scott, and Talbot. Amendment: Mr. Petrie moved, Mr. Aitken seconded, " That the following words be added to the motion: ' But that the right is reserved to the Inspector to examine all the pupils gf any class or of any school, if he see fit.' " Carried. The motion, as amended, was put and carried. Ayes, 23 : Messrs. Aitken, Bindon, Bird, Bridge, Dempsey, Fetch, Garrow, Gill, Gow, Goyen, Grundy, Hendry, Johnson, Ladley, McAlister, MacGregor, McWhirter, Morton, Petrie, Scott, Smith, Talbot, Weston. Noes, 3: Messrs. Anderson, Barclay, Lee. Delegate from Otago Board. —Shortly after the beginning of the afternoon debate, Hon. J. MacGregor took his place as a member of the Conference. Invitations. —(l.) A letter waa read from Major L. W. Loveday inviting the members of Conference to hear the lads belonging to the Battalion Garrison Band at practice. (2.) Mr. Eiley invited the members of Conference to go over the Technical School to-morrow afternoon. Syllabus. —Mr. Lee proposed, " That, in constructing any amended standard syllabus, the whole work of the several standards be divided into two or more sections, and that every scholar be classified in each section separately." Seconded by Mr. Garrow (pro formd). Notices of Motion. —(l.) Mr. McAlister: "That, in the opinion of this Conference, it is desirable that the department should make regulations for the uniform staffing of schools throughout the colony on the basis of the average attendance at each school, and for fixing the salaries payable to teachers throughout the colony on the same basis." (2.) Mr. Smith: "That the examination and classification of pupil-teachers throughout the colony bo undertaken by the department." (3.) Mr. Aitken: "That the Conference is prepared to receive a deputation from the New Zealand Alliance at a time to be fixed." Adjournment. —Mr. Goyen moved the adjournment of debate until 7.30 p.m.

3?oubth Session, The Conference resumed at 7.30 p.m. The minutes of the previous session were read and confirmed. Mr. Lee's Motion. —On the motion of Mr. Gill, seconded by Mr. Bindon, the debate on Mr. Lee's motion was adjourned. Technical and Manual Instruction. —The motion standing on the Order Paper in the name of Mr. Weston was withdrawn by the mover, in favour of that proposed by Mr. Eiley.