E\—l2

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Final Report of Miscellaneous Committee, * 1. Matters brought under Hon. Minister's notice and referred to this Conference, (a.) School sanitation.—Recommended to the Department for favourable consideration. (6.) Teaching by kinematograph.—The committee has no recommendation to make. (c.) Medical inspection of schools. —Recommended to the Government for favourable consideration. 2. Matters arising out of the report of the Commission on Education in New Zealand, 1912. (a.) Private schools (p. 23 of report). —This committee is of opinion that all private schools should be inspected by Inspectors responsible to the Department of Education. (6.) Overlapping (p. 15 of report of Commission). —The committee has no recommendation to make. (c.) Free school-books (p. 22 of report of Commission). —The committee agrees with the recommendation of the Education Commission. 3. " That wherever practicable it be part of a teacher's duty to visit during the year at least one school other than that in which he is engaged."—The committee has no recommendation to make. 4. Motion by Mr. Bossence : "That the Department enter into correspondence with educational authorities elsewhere for the purpose of securing interchange of teachers between this Dominion and other parts of the Empire."—The committee has no recommendation to make. 5. Motion by Mr. Bossence: "That in order to secure continuity of method at least two staff conferences be held yearly in each school employing more than two teachers."—heft to the direction of Education Boards and Boards' Inspectors. Motion by Mr. Bossence: "That in the Education Act provision be made for facilitating temporary exchange of teachers." —The committee has no recommendation to make. John I!. Don, Convener of Committee. The report was adopted. Report of Education Commission. Dr. Mcllraith moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, That a Council of Education be appointed.— Carried, by 18 to 10. Mr. Richaidson moved, Mr. Whetter seconded, That the function of the Council be advisory. —Carried. it was decided that the Conference terminate its proceedings at 11.30 p.m. It was resolved, That this Conference,, while agreeing that the number of Education Boards should be reduced, considers that the disti icts as recommended by the Commission are too large for administrative purposes. It was resolved, That the Conference is unable to consider the question of education of girls, sex physiology, and the trend of education. It was decided that the question of school buildings and playgrounds be left to the Boards and Department. The Conierence generally approved of the consolidation of schools in suitable localities. The Conference decided that it had no time to consider those questions dealing with School Boards and School Committees. It was resolved, That each Education Board shall nominate periodically one of its Inspectors or teachers to study educational methods in other parts of the world, such nomination to be confirmed by the Council of Education. Mr. Bossence moved, That this Conference protest against the finding of the Commission of want of aim and method among Inspectors, as such finding is contrary to fact, and not in accordance with evidence. —Seconded by Mr. Richardson. —host on the voices. Mr. McKenzie moved, That in the opinion of this Conference the Inspectorate should be centralized. —Seconded by Mr. Hill. —host on the voices. Mr. Bakewell moved, That this Conference record its high appreciation of the distinguished services rendered to the cause of education by Mr. Petrie, late Chief Inspector of Auckland; Mr. Goven, late Chief Inspector of Otago; Professor White, late Principal of Dunedin Training College; Messrs. 1!. D. Stewart and Grierson, of Auckland; and Mr. E. A. Scott, of Grey, and trusts that they may long live to enjoy the honourable repose to which they are so justly entitled : and, further, that this Conference can only express its regret that, in the distribution of honours so freely bestowed on other branches of the Public Service, there appears to be no recognition of the fact that men who have devoted their lives to the discharge of the highest duty of a State have also deserved well of their country. —Carried unanimously. Mr. Fleming moved, That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the Chairman for his able conduct of the proceedings. —Carried by acclamation. Dr. Anderson was also accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his services to the Conference. It was resolved that the Chairman be given power to confirm the minutes. The Conference concluded at 11.45 p.m.

* See page 12.