THE DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2670, 7 September 1871, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

At last evening’s sederunt, the Education Bill was discussed clause by clause. The recommendations agreed to were these ; On clause 5, placing the appointment of inspectors of schools in the hands of the Government, it was suggested that the appointment should be made by the Provincial Boards, on the ground that under the Act the appointments might be made for party purposes in favor of incompetent persons. Uu the other hand, it was contended that the latter objection might be applied to appointments made by Provincial Boards, and that, as contemplated by the Act, the appointments would be under the eye of the central authority, while the Minister of Education could be brought to book for appointing incompetent persons. It was agreed to leave the question open, but subsequent notice of it, as had been intended, was overlooked. Sections 7 and 8, defining the constitution of the first and subsequent Provincial Education Boards were objected to, on the ground that the power given to Provincial Councils to elect members would be used for political purposes, while Boards should be elected solely bn educational grounds. The Rev. Mr Stuart moved a*resolution approving of the mode of election set forth in the Act, but he could not find a seconder, Mr Sutherland was in favor of dividing the Province into as many districts as there were members to be elected, and having them elected by the people for five years; while Mr Gillies preferred that the election should be made by school as Mr Sutherland’s plan would involve too large a cost. Both plans were opposed by Mr Stuart, who objected to the latter especially, he contending that the people, with whom, all wisdom did not lie, had already too many meetings to attend to, and that the country was groaning under 1 the burden of too much machinery, without being crushed down with more. Ultimately the following was agreed to:—“ The Presbytery, while uot prepared to suggest another mode of constituting Provincial Boards, would prefer that these Boards be eut rely non-political bodies.” On clause 13, fixing the quorum ;at Board meetings at three, aud the number of Board members at seven, a resolution was adopted altering the numbers to five aud nine respectively. Clause 18, vesting the power of appointing te rollers in Provincial Boards, was disapproved of. A resolution was adopted, recommending that the appointments should be given to the school committees, and that the election of rectors of High and Grammar schools and lady principals of girls’ High schools should be vested in the Provincial Board. On clauses 52 and 53, providing for the establishment of aided schools, being read, a strong feeling against them was manifested. The opinions of Sir Robert Kane, one of the Irish Education Commissioners on the subject, were read by Mr Gillies, and generally approved of. Section 57, providing for special inspection of aided schools, was condemned with sections 53 and 54, as being equally objectionable. It was also recommended that the time children should be compelled to attend school should be for six or seven mouths of the year; also that all class books to be used in public schools should be recommended by the Board ; aud that in a;'printing rectors to High artd Grammar schools, preference should be given to the candidate wh* has passed through a TJrrrversity curriculum, all other qualification* being equal.