EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 506, 20 August 1902, Page 3

EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

MORE MONEY WANTED.

By Tolcgraph—Tress Association. Wellington, last night. The Education Hoards’ Conference opened this morning. It was resolved that in addition to ordinary capitation and other grants, adequate provision should be made for the cost of administration by Boards. During the discussion, Mr Hogg, M.H.R., advised the Conference to exercise caution in its requests. The sixteen motions on the order paper, pertaining to matters affecting Hoards, all contained an outcry for more money. The Conference should be careful lest it raised such a state of public feeling as would militate against the educational system. At the Education Board Conference a. motion by the Nelson representative to provide that where attendance i-. injuriously aflected by impoitan: local cun ditions during any quarter, payment teachers’ salaries and captation to Boa: cl s be estimated on the average ol the other three quarters was negatived The Conference resolved that a substantial increase should be made in the building grants of Education Boards, and that the capitation grant should be increased by 3s 3d ; that primary education be brought under the control of the Education Boards ; that the grants fur manual and technical instruction be made to Boards direct; that the Conference view with disfavor the multiplication of penny text books ; that provision should be made for teaching sewing in all the schools ; that the Conference strongly disapproves of the centralisation ol inspectors, and that the centralising tendency is proving detrimental to to the interests 0 education

Tho Education Board's Conference resolved thnt Inspeclors should bo granted free passes on railways ; that it is desirable Inspectors should meet teachers in conference at regular intervals ; that suitable permanent provision be msulo for paymont of relieving teachers ; that thoro is noed for adequato training of teachers. A motion sent up by the Otago Board that Education Boards should bo elected by wider constituency than at present was opposod by Otugo’s delegate, Mr T. Mackenzie. Tho motion was not dobatod, but a show of hands had to bo taken upon it, whon six delegates voted in support of and four against it. Tho deluy of tho Education Department in attending to business brought before it by Boards was tho subject of much sovere criticism from tho delegates. Tho debate was sharp and lively, Messrs Hogg, Macalistor, and Hanan boing tho only delegates who had a good word to say for tho Department. Ultimately the following resolution was carriod by sovon votes to threo, on tho motion of Mr T. Mackenzie : “ That this Conference trusts that greater promptitude will bo shown by tho Dopartmont in connection with communications with Bonrds, and also deprecates tho tendency of central offico to encroach on tho powors and functions of Boards.”