EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 50, 28 February 1901, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

THE PROPOSED INCREASE OF SALARIES. THE BOARDS OBJECT. [by TELEOBAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington, last night. The schedule of teachers’ salaries drawn up by the Education Department was again discussed by the Wellington Education Board to-day. Mr Hogg, M.H.R., moved, “That the Board is of opinion that the disturbance of its regulations by the increasing of certain salaries is likely to produce disorganisation and heart-burn, and must obviously fail to remove the necessity for substantial retrenchments.”

An amendment was put forward “ Thai

the Board request the Department to call a conference of Education Boards for the purpose of considering the departmental proposals.” The amendment was carried.

' Mr Robert Lee, Chief Inspector, stated ' at the Wellington Education Board’s , meeting to-day that the Secretary for Education had told him that the Department did not intend to divulge its scheme for a colonial scale of salaries until the Conference had been held, but Mr Hogben had told him (Mr Lee) enough, however, . to convince him that the scheme as a whole was likely to prove a satisfactory one. It would mean an increase of eight per cent, for each teacher in the colony, or a total increase of expenditure by the Government of £23,000. Members of the Board doubted correctness of Mr Lee’s information, and especially the statement that pupil teachers were to bo particularly considered. Mr Lee repeated that as an expert he considered Mr Ilogbon’s scheme a good one. The scale was on the basis o£ the number of pupils in attendance, but it also recognised tho grado of teaching that tho Wellington Board did not recognise. Members of tho Board spoke against any infringement of tho functions entrusted to Education Boards by statute. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE AUCKLAND BODY. PRESIDENT CONDEMNS LEGISLATION AND FEDERATION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, last night. At the annual meeting of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce to-day, Mr W. R. Caldwell was elected President for the ensuing term. Mr S. Vailo, tho retiring President, in his address, referred to tho injustice .suffered by the North Island in comparison with the South in the matter of railway construction. He said that statistics showed that Auckland, and not Wellington, was tho distributing centre for the colony. He characterised as dangerous such legislation as the Destitute Persons Act of 1895, as an order on an estate might be made unknown to a mortgage. lie also condemned the Workmen’s Compensation Act. Dealing with Federation, he said his recent visit to : Australia had not made him change his i mind that it would be unwise for New Zealand to join tho Commonwealth. The ' bnlanco-shcct showed a credit of £285 ' the year’s working. 1 TEACHERS’ SALARIES. ! THE DEPARTMENT’S PROPOSALS - CONDEMNED. i < PUZZLE “ SOLVED ” BY BLAMING i THE DEPARTMENT. < [By Tolegraph—rress Association.] i Napier, last night. j At tho meeting of the Education Board . a letter from the Department declined to j state the basis on which the vote for the j increase of salaries was allocated. Mr Westall, an ex-teacher, said that ( apparently it was based on academical ( degrees hold. As those with high degrees ( generally hold the host appointments, j those already good salaries were largely increased, while the underpaid teachers in small schools got next to nothing. The Chairman, Dr Sidcy, said that would not account for all tho anomalies, c as in one school of 59 pupils tho master ‘ had his salary increased to a higher figure . than that of one with 69 pupils, though • bofii held identical qualifications. Tho Board gave up the puzzle, but . decided to mako a protest. COLCHESTER MURDER. LILLY WHITE ’ S OFFER. WILL CONFRONT ALL ACCUSERS. : [By Telegraph—Press Association.] Wellington, last night. Lillywliito, who is charged with the Colchester murder, has determined that if the authorities refuse to convey him to England, via Vancouver, he will consent to be taken Home by the next direct steamer.