N.Z. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2755, 26 April 1916, Page 3

N.Z. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

GENERAL CONFERENCE

REPORT OF THE, EXECUTIVE

The annual conference ol the iNcM Zealand Educational Institute was resumed yesterday morning under the presidoncv of lir. H. 0. Cousins, ihe chief business of the morning was the consideration of the acritiai report and balance-sheet, the adoption of _ which was formally moved by the president. The report of the executive said that though the institute cannot hope for much progress in the immediate future, it has an important duty to perform in guarding against any retrograde tendency. . "The treasurer's returns for the year ending December 31, 1915, show that capitation on 3027 members had been paid, as compared with that on 3018 in the previous year. The number of honorary members has increased to 46. "The Provident Fund now stands at £928 7s. 4d. No demands have been made on the fund this year. "The Legal Assistance Fund now stands at £1000. During tlie year more than twenty teachers had benefited by the assistance of the fund, either by way of legal advice or assistance in the courts. The cases dealt w'ith included the prosecution of. parents for threatening or insulting teachers, defending teachers charged with assault, and a case in the Supreme Court against tlio Marlborough Board in defence of a teacher's right under the law concerning appointments. The teachers were successful in all these cases but one. The attention of the institute's solicitors has also bc-en engaged with the position of a number of teachers in normal schools 'which is still uncertain. At the present time the executive is supporting an appeal case in the Watigamii district. , "During the year the subject of soriie form of amalgamation of the different societies of teachers has come under discussion. The Secondary Assistants' Association, the Native School Teachers' Association, aud the Technical School Teachers' Association have each considered the question and discussed'the preliminaries of some form of combination with the New Zealand Educational Institute. The executive was also represented at a meeting of the various associations of State servants called to consider the advisability of forming a council of such associations with a_ view of taking-joint action when joint interests miglit render this desirable. "It is with pleasure that the executive acknowledges the action of the Auckland and .Wellington ' boards in promoting teachers while absent on military duty, thus ensuring that they shall not suffer professionally for having acted patriotically. : Thei executive has had forcible representations made to . it concerning the inadequate pay of teachers serving in the ranks. It is"felt that the present scale makes too great a demand on those below die commissioned ranks. The, executive feels that this is a matter .that the annua! meeting should, take into consideration. ,

Payments. In considering' amendments to the new Constitution, the subscription of 2s. for a copy t>f the Official Journal of tlio institute was altered to 2s. (id. A further proposition \vas made by the treasurer (Mr.' K. M. JustJ, to increase the annual subscription to ■ 15s. per annum. Re proposed that it should be a flat rato ou. the ground that everyone received equal benefits, and that an increase was needed; was very clearly indicated in tlio rising expenditure, as disclosed in the balance-sheet.. Mr. Just wished at first to submit liis proposals to a vote of the conference, but ou the suggestion of more than ono delegate, it was; agreed that the proposal should be submitted to the bi&nches through the medium of the "Journal," 'so that every member might see what it was proposed to do. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. W. Eudey; vicepresident, Mr. L. F. de Berry, M.A.; secretary, Mr. 11. A. 1/arkinson; treasurer, Mi'. E. U. Just'; non-official members of the executive—North Island: Mr. W. H. Newton; 'Wellington: Mr. A. Erskine; South Island: Mr. 0. D. Flauuuik. The New Constitution. It was decided that the new constitution should become operative on July 1 of this year.'. . Assistant-Director of Education. Mr. W. Davidson moved, without notice," a motion appreciative of.'"the ap-pointment-of Mr. John Caughley ■as Assistant Director of Education. Both the mover and the seconder (Mr. Leslie) made eulogistic references to. tlie ability, integrity, and personality of Mr. Caugliley. Education Act. Under this heading there were ten remits ; The first was from the Wellington branch, and read as under.:— "If any school is, at the beginning, of any year, placed in Grade 1, or a higher grade, and that school is thereafter olianged in grade, no teacher shall, on account of such change, suffer a reduction in salary or allowance from what he -would have received if no such change had taken place." This was carried ' without any discussion.

The second remit, also from Wellington, touched upon the recent drastic reduction in the number of Education Districts. The text of the remit was aa follows:—

"That the institute regrets_ Parliament's action in establishing nine education districts, thus minimising the possibilities of reforms in our education system. The, institute strongly urges the Government to abolish the present education districts and, place the control of education under a National Board of Education."

As the hour was then late, and several delegates were departing from the City, it' was decided to postpone consideration of the remit until the next annual conference.

It was intended to hold an evening session, but at the last moment .it was decided to leave the rest of the business (a/considerable portion of tlie order paper) to the executive to deal with. ' "*, .

It was reported that Murray purses, consisting of, £5 from the Wellington Institute and £5 from the North Canterbury Institute, had been contributed to the teachers' provident fund. The next conference was fixed to be held in the first .week of January.