13

E.—l2

Training of Uncertificated Teachers. —There is a large number of uncertificated teachers in this district who cannot possibly attend Saturday training classes, and who by necessary limitations cannot take the practical science required for certificates in any other way than by personal attendance at classes established for their benefit. The Department provides railway passes, but teachers pay their own board. This, with their small salaries, they can ill afford to do. Cannot an allowance be made for this purpose? Probationers. —A probationer may not become a pupil-teacher, nor may the position of a probationer leaving the service during the year be filled. This arrangement ill suits our district, where, with our rapidly increasing school population, any waste of teaching power is a serious matter for the schools. Recommendations. Physical Training. —As the regulations have not been issued yet, no recommendation to make. Training of Uncertificated Teachers. —Already dealt with. Probationers. —Should a probationer resign before the completion of his term, another appointment be made. The above recommendations were adopted. interim Report of the Manual and Technical Committee. 1. It was resolved to refer remit No. 14 from the Auckland Inspectors to the Conference, with a recommendation in favour of its adoption. 2. That the present system of payment of manual and technical grants for primary schools should be abolished. The committee was informed that the Department had under consideration a scheme by which the objects sought to be obtained under this motion would be secured, and in view of this information, it was agreed to proceed no further with this motion. 3. That the capitation rate paid for cookery be increased to 15s. per pupil in average attendance. The committee recommend that this motion be agreed to. The committee is also of opinion that it is inadvisable that any charge be made to pupils attending cookery classes. The report was adopted. C. R. Richardson, Convener. Further Interim Report of Manual and Technical Instruction Committee. With regard to the matters under the heading " Manual and Technical Instruction " referred to this Conference by the Hon. the Minister of Education, your committee make the following recommendations : — (1.) That Senior Scholarships be tenable at State farms and similar institutions. (2.) That those pupils who have satisfactorily completed a three years' rural course at a district high or a secondary school should be given preference as cadets on State farms. (3.) That a three years' course of study in a rural course should be considered as an equivalent to one year's work on a farm as required for admission to a course at hincoln College. (4.) The committee recommend that the Government should be urged to proceed with the establishment of two agricultural colleges as speedily as possible. (5.) The committee recommend that the services of the Agricultural Department experts should be occasionally available for instruction in connexion with district high schools, secondary and technical schools. (6.) The committee also recommend that, in so far as compatible with the Civil Service Regula tions, and other things being equal, candidates who have undergone a course of rural instruction should be given preference of employment in the Department of Agriculture. The committee recommend that the Education Department be asked to rearrange the courses in botany and in agriculture for the Civil Service Junior Examination, and allow candidates to sit for the examination in both these subjects. With regard to fixed salaries for agriculture and manual training experts, this committee has no recommendation to make. The report was adopted. - C. R. Richardson, Convener. Final Report of tin Committee on Manual and Technical Instruction. In connexion with the remits under the heading " Manual and Technical Instruction," from pages 14 and 15 of the report of the Royal Commission, your committee have to report:— (1.) That the matters referred to in clauses 1 and 3 have already been dealt with in an interim report from this committee. (2.) Your committee is of opinion that the recommendation contained in clauses 5 and 6 of the Commission's report under this heading be given effect to. (3.) With regard to clauses 2 and 4, your committee makes no recommendation. With regard to the remits under the headings " Continuation Classes" (page 15) and " Children and Street Trading " (page 23), your committee has no recommendation to make. Regarding the remit under the heading " Agricultural Education " (page 16 of the Commission's report), your committee reports that — (1.) It disagrees with the finding of the Commission as set out in clause 1 : (2.) It has already dealt with the matter referred to in clause 5; and (3.) It has no recommendation to make regarding clauses 2, 3, and 4. The report was adopted. C. R. Richardson, Convener.