New Plymouth News

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 127, 8 June 1901, Page 2

New Plymouth News

[By Telegraph—Press Association]. Now Plymouth, last night. Tho Teachers’ Salarios Commission concluded its sitting hero to-day. Tho principal evidence was that of E. G. Allswortk, member of tho Education Board. While agreeing with a colonial scalo, ho saw difficulty in providing the increased sum without increasing colonial expenditure. Ho strongly favored teachers and inspectors being undor control of tho Department. Ho advocated provision being made for locally training pupil toachors. Confining tho scope of tho commission of inquiry to salaries was merely scratching the surfaco of tho question. Tho interlipping of districts roquirod re-adjustiug, especially in viow of higher education. Ho complimented Mr Hogben on his scheme for tho lattor. The present high schools wero mostly a moro farce ; they competed with the primary schools. Ho suggested a central council of education to assist tho Department, composed partly of elected and nominated members, replacing present boards by larger ones, so as to act as buffers betweon the Department and people. At the Harbor Board, confirmation of the minutes relating to tho resolution doclarod carried at last meeting in regard to Government nominees was only carried on the casting vote of tho chairman. One of the nominees resigned and left the Board.

There is great excitement over tho licensing meeting owing to tho application for a new license in view of a possible vacancy through allowing suburban licenses to lapse. Mr Stamford, S.M., is at the head of the committee. Dr. Findlay and Mr A. B. Atkinson are both engaged by opponents. Tho case lasted till 10 p.m., and was thon adjourned till tomorrow. The S.M. opened tho proceedings with a lengthy written statement on licensing matters, in which he favored tho Gothenburg system. Tho Court House was crowded, and at times the proceedings were lively and exciting. The S.M. refused to entertain an objection by Mr Atkinson this ovening to His Worship adjudicating on the matter, on the ground of pecuniary bias or reasonable suspicion of same through relations with persons interested in the application.