I.—B

REPORTS.

No. 116,—Petition of Elsie Andrews and 9 Others, representing the New Zealand Women Teachers' Association (Registered). Praying for the restoration, without qualification, of the maximum salary of £290 ; for the refund of excess contributions to Superannuation Fund, or other relief. I have the honour to report that, in view of the fact that the Department has undertaken that no loss shall be suffered by the present holders of the positions affected and that the proposed economy shall apply only to future appointments, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 18th September, 1934.

No. 295. —Petition of G. W. Russell, of 305 Main Road, Eastbourne. Praying for compensation in respect of the preparation of a text-book on citizenship for use in public schools and subsequently withheld. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee has carefully considered this petition, and the Committee is satisfied : — (1) That the petitioner wrote this book at the suggestion of the then Minister of Education, Sir James Parr. (2) That although the book was not approved of as a text-book by the Education Department, the Committee is of opinion, having regard to all the circumstances, the petitioner should have been paid for his manuscript. rhe Committee therefore recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 6th March, 1935.

No. 213,—Petition of A. M. Cowan, of Rama Rama, Auckland. Praying that the reports and recommendations of the Education Committee on his petitions of 1928 and 1929 be given effect to. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee has carefully considered this petition, and recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 14th March, 1935.

No. 211,—Petition of Christina Goodridge, of 2 Boyle Crescent, Auckland. Praying for compensation for alleged wrongful dismissal from the service of the Education Department. I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 29th March, 1935.

Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill. I have the honour to report that the Education Committee has carefully considered the above Bill, and recommends that it be not allowed to proceed. 29th March, 1935.

Special Report. I have the honour to report, in connection with the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill, already reported on, that the Committee is of the opinion that the following views, set forth in parliamentary paper 1.-Ba, 1930 (Recess Education Committee Report), should be given effect to " (a) That no system of religious instruction in State schools should be authorized such as will compulsorily require any State teacher to disclose his or her religious beliefs or his or her adherence to any particular denomination, or to take part in religious exercises other than of his or her own free will; but that, on the other hand, the fullest liberty should be given to those teachers who desire of their own accord to assist in the Nelson or any similar system of religious instruction that may be authorized by law. " (b) That the following clause be inserted in the Education Act, namely— " ' Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the principal Act or in any direction given by the Board, if accredited persons approved by the Minister desire to give moral and religious instruction of a voluntary nature in school-buildings, the ordinary opening-hour of the school shall be postponed, or the ordinary closing-hour in the afternoon shall be advanced, on one day in each week, as agreed upon, for not more than half an hour, in order to enable the instruction to be conveniently given: ' Provided that no alteration shall be made in the opening or closing hours which would reduce the number of hours to be devoted on that day to secular instruction to less than the minimum of four hours fixed by the principal Act.' " The Committee recommends that this special report be referred to the Government for consideration. 29th March, 1935.

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