SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Evening Star, Issue 19791, 15 February 1928, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

THE FEDERATION CONFERENCE [Feb United Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, February 14. The Religious Exercises in Schools Bill was discussed by the South Island School Committees’ Association to-day. A resolution was proposed and ‘seconded that the conference should sponsor the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, but in the end an expression of opinion was deferred, and it was agreed to refer the matter to the local associations. Remits /were carried as follows: — That this conference strongly protests against the increasing tendency of the Government towards centralisation and bureaucratic government. It is considered that the facilities for thrift provided by the savings banks should he availed of in all schools, and that the education hoards be recommended to take steps to establish savings banks in all primary schools where such do not already_ exist. That where teachers applying for any position are graded within three marks of each other, and, in the opinion of the board, the other qualifications of the applicants are of equal merit, the board shall send the names of such applicants on to the committee for consideration.

The following officers were elected President, Mr A. P. Jones (Invercargill); vice-presidents, Messrs D. 0. Cameron (Otago) and M. Gibbs (Otago); secretary and treasurer, Mr C W. Paton (Southland); committee—Messrs J. 0. W Somerville (Dunedin), T. W. West (Canterbury), J. Holland (Invercargill), J. W. Preen (Timaru), and R. Arnnt (Dunedin).