5

1.—13b.

Ayes, 6. —Mr. Baume, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Sidey, Hon. Mr. Fowlds. Noes, 2.—Mr. Allen, Mr. Lethbridge. And so it was resolved in the affirmative. Figures retained. First Schedule agreed to. Second Schedule. Part I. Amendment proposed, That in the Second Schedule it be provided that one of the first two assistants shall be a female teacher. (Mr. Baume.) And the question being put for the adoption of the motion, the Committee divided, the names being taken down as follow: — Ayes, 3.—Mr. Baume, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Lethbridge. Noes, s.—Mr. Allen, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Sidey, Hon. Mr. Fowlds. So it passed in the negative. Motion rejected. Second Schedule. Another amendment proposed, That in Part V, in the first line, the figures 30 be struck out, and the figures 20 inserted in lieu thereof. (Hon. Mr. Fowlds.) Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, That after the first line a new grade be constituted by the insertion in the first column of the figures 21-30, and following on the insertion in the second column of the figure 4. (Hon. Mr. Fowlds.) Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, That note («), in Part V, be struck out, and the following be inserted in lieu thereof : To the head teacher of a district high school there shall be payable an amount of £30 per annum in addition to any other amounts payable to him under this Bill. (Hon. Mr. Fowlds.) Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, That the figure 4, in the first column of the Schedule, be struck out, and the figure sbe inserted in lieu thereof. (Mr. ./. Allen.) Amendment put and rejected. Another amendment proposed, That the figures 3b in the Schedule be struck out, and the figure 4be inserted in lieu thereof. (Mr. J. Allen.) Amendment put and rejected. Second Schedule as amended agreed to. Third, Fourth, and Fifth Schedules agreed to. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Fowlds, Resolved, That the Bill be recommitted for the consideration of several new clauses, the nature of which he indicated. Amendment proposed, That the following new subsection be added to clause s—namely5—namely : (5) Notwithstanding anything .in this section, the staff of any public school shall not, at any time before the full number of the said additional assistants has been appointed, be less than it would have been under the principal Act had this Act not been passed, and the additional teachers (if any) required in order to conform to this requirement shall receive salaries of subgrade lα, as determined in the First Schedule hereto. (Hon. Mr. Fowlds.) Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, That the words in line 14, clause 7, " or subgrade " be struck out. (Hon. Mr. Fowlds.) Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, That to subclause 7, of clause 7, the following words be added: and shall receive his first increment of salary on the same date as if he had continued in the position from which he was so transferred. (Hon. Mr. Fowlds.) Amendment agreed to. ■ Another amendment proposed, That the following be inserted, and stand as an additional subclause to clause 7, namely, — (8.) If any public school is, at the beginning of any year, placed in Grade 1 or a higher grade, and that school is thereafter reduced in grade, any teacher who remains in the same position therein shall, for two years after the reduction, continue to receive the same salary as if no such reduction had taken place, but the school shall nevertheless at all times be staffed in accordance with the grade or subgrade to which it belongs for the time being, (//on. Mr. Fowlds.) Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, That the following be inserted and stand as clause 21 of the Bill:— 13a. Section one hundred and seventy-two of the principal Act is hereby amended by inserting, after paragraph (i) thereof, the following paragraph : (ii.) For' the registration of public, private, and secondary school colours and uniforms, and for forbidding the wearing of registered colours and uniforms by persons other than the pupils or staff of schools in respect of which those colours and uniforms are si. registered, and for imposing fines not exceeding two pounds for the breach of any such regulation. (Hon. Mr. Fowlds.) Amendment agreed to. Mr. Baume moved, That the Bill lie recommitted for the purpose of inserting a new clause, the nature of which he indicated. ■ Question put, and motion rejected. Mr. Allen moved, That the Bill be recommitted for the purpose of giving consideration to some of the suggestions contained in a communication from the Rev. P. B. Fraser, M.A. Question put, and motion rejected. Resolved, That the Committee report the Education Act Amendment Bill as amended to the House. Thereupon the Committee agreed to adjourn, and adjourned accordingly. Minutes confirmed.