THE NEW EDUCATION BILL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2690, 30 September 1871, Page 3

THE NEW EDUCATION BILL.

Mr Curtis, jthe Superintendent of Nelson, has given notice of his intention to move the following .amendments, when the Bill is in committee : In section 7, to strike out lines 6 to 16, both inclusive, and insert the following in lieu thereof : “ Every board committee or other body which at the time of the passing of this Act shall by authority of any Act or Ordinance of any province have the general direction or control of public education or the management of schools within such province shall continue to hold office until an education hoard shall have been elected for such province under the provisions of this Act.” In sections 3, to strike out lines 17 to 35, both inclusive, and insert the following in lion thereof : “Within thirty days next after the election as hereinafter provided of any school committee such committee shall meet at a time and place to be appointed by the Superintendent and shall elect some person to be a member of the education aboard : Provided that if and when the number of school committees within any province shall be more than fifteen the Superintendent shall by notice in the Government Gazette of such province and in the New Zealand Gazette declare that any two or more of such committees shall form a joint committee for the purpose only of electing and who shall elect some person to he a member of the education board and no one of the committees so declared by the Superintendent to form part of any such joint committee shall elect any person to be a member of the education board otherwise than as herein last provided and the total number of persons elected by such school committee and joint committees shall not exceed fifteen.” “The Superintendent of each province shall, by notice in the Government Gazette of such province, and by advertisement in at least one newspaper circulating in such province, appoint the time and place at which any school committees declared to form a joint committee shall meet for the purpose of electing a member of the education board.” “If any school committee or joint committee shall neglect to elect a member of the education board the board shall be held to be fully constituted nevertheless.” “The Superintendent of every province shall appoint one person being a member of the Executive Council of such province to be a member of the committee and such person together with the persons elected by the school committees and joint committees shall constitute the education board of such province.” “The board shall at their first meeting elect one of their number to be chairman of the board whose duty it shall be to preside at all meetings of the board at which he is present.” To strike out the last twelve lines in the same section (8). To amend section 12 by providing for monthly meetings of the board. To amend section 13 by raising the quorum to five and altering the provisions as to the office of chairman In section 18. to strikeout thewords ‘.‘the Minister of Education,” a,ud insert “a Government Inspector of School” in Heq thereof. In section 33, tp fitrike cut the words “ contribute towards” in line 5, and insert the words “fix and pay” in lieu thereof; and to insert the words “to contribute” after the word “and” in line 6. To insert the following new clause to follow section 4G ■ It shall be lawful for the board of any province if it shall think it expedient in the interests of education or for any other reason to provide that all or any of the public schools within such province shall he open to all children between the ages of five and fourteen years free of any school fees or other payment whatsoever. To strike out sections 53 and 54, and insert in lieu thereof a provision that when 20 corn ore ratepayers in any Province shall signify in writing to the Board their desire to fie yonstltuted into a separate body for educational purposes, and shall elected a school committee of not less tbftP 5, nor more than 9 persons, $ be the duty of the Board to pay over to that committee all future rates collected in the district; the Board to be empowered to give aid, provided it is satisfied there are satisfactory buildings} that the school is open to all children between the ages of 5 and 14 years without payment; that .secular instruction is imparted to its satisfaction, and that any religious instruction given is subject to the conditions contained in section 55 of the A ct. To add the following proviso to sub-sec-tion 2 of section 55 : “ Provided that such religious observance qr instruction shall be practised or given only by direction or with the assent of the school committee.” In suh-sectiou 2 of section 56, to strike out the word “shall,” and insert the words “may by direction or with the assent of the school committee ” m liou thereof. To strike out sections 59 to 65, both inclusive. In section 77, to strike out the words “ the board may from time to time for each year determine,” and insert the following in lieu thereof :—“ shall be fixed and determined by resolution of the Provincial Council confirmed by the Supe intendent of such province.” To insert the following new claus •, to follow section 85: — The board of any province may also, if authorised by resolution of the Provincial Council confirmed by the Superintendent, i* addition to either an annual value rate or a household rate, make and levy upon every householder within such province a rate of five shillings for every child of such householder between the ages of five and fourteen years: Provided always, that no such householder shall be liable to pay for more than tour children, nor for any child residmoro than three miles from any public school.