E.—l2

24

The Commission would also direct attention to the bad habits engendered by young children of both sexes being allowed to loiter about the streets at night or gather in the neighbourhood of theatres, picture-shows, &c, at hours when they should be in their homes or in their beds. This is an evil of such magnitude that if it is not coped with and minimized, the results must be disastrous to the morality of the community. The Commissioners wish to acknowledge the courtesy of the Education Boards in providing accommodation for the sittings of the Commission, and the trouble taken by their officers to facilitate the inquiries necessary to the due carrying-out of the investigation enjoined by the order of reference. The Inspector-General of Schools (Mr. G. Hogben, M.A.) rendered the Commission valuable service. The Secretary to the Commission (Mr. F. K. de Castro) proved especially valuable and efficient in performing his exacting secretarial duties, and well earned the gratitude of the individual members of the Commission. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this thirty-first day of July, in the year one thousand nine hundred and twelve. Mark Cohen, Chairman. William Davidson. James Robert Kirk. Fred. Pirani. Hugh Poland. John Charles Thomson. Thomas Umfrey Wells.

MINORITY REPORT.

It is with extreme regret that I find it necessary to differ so much from my colleagues on the Commission as to find it necessary to add a Minority Report to the very comprehensive statement of the faults and requirements of the education system. The main points in which I differ from the conclusions of a bare majority of my colleagues are two—namely, the setting-up of an Advisory Council of Education, and the absence of a recommendation for the election of Education Boards and School Boards under the system of proportional representation. Apart from the unweildy proportions of a Council of Education, it is my opinion that no genuine reform is possible in the administration of education unless there is real control by the people from the official head of the Department down to the School Committees. My proposal was for a Council, consisting of the Minister and seven members, the latter to hold office for five years and to give their services entirely to the work of the Council. The seven members to be appointed or elected as follows : — Two (one of whom should be the Director of Education) to be appointed by the Minister ; Two to be elected by the members of the five Education Boards ; Two to be elected by the certificated teachers (one from the North Island and one from the South Island) ; and One to be elected by the School Inspectors. The duties of the Council to include the control of the whole system of primary, secondary, and technical education, and to meet at least once every two months. In the event of any one actively employed in educational work being appointed to the Council, his or her salary, rights, and privileges to be conserved. Such salaries to be paid to the members of the Council as Parliament may decide. Members of the Council could specialize in different branches of education, and their united conferences should make for considerable benefit to the administration of our education system. The Council should be intrusted with the control of the funds voted by Parliament for education, subject only to the veto of the Minister of Education. The Inspectorate and grading of teachers for Dominion promotion should be under the control of the Council. One Chief Inspector should be attached to the staff of each Education Board as a Superintendent of Education in the respective education districts. (Sgd.) Fred. Pirani, Wellington, 31st July, 1912.