The Globe. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1876.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 712, 30 September 1876, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1876.

Sevaeal weeks ago a very complete and somewhat ponderous Education Bill for the whole colony was printed and circulated previous to its .introduction in the Lower House. Owing, however, to “ circumstances over which “ the Government had no control,” i.e., the frequent recurrence of those endless debates on party questions, it was found that a measure of such great importance, which would require serious consideration, and lead probably to very lengthy arguments, could not, by any possible chance, become law this year. But in order to prevent any stoppages or complications which might otherwise have arisen, it became necessary to make some provision for the carrying on of educational matters until the larger scheme could be brought out for proper discussion. A new Bill, intituled an Act to provide for the establishment and incorporation of Education Boards throughout the colony, and called the Education Boards Act, 1876, has been the result. Its main features deal with the levying of rates and fees, with certain powers given to Boards of Education to let or sell lands vested in them or reserves, and generally with matters of detail in the administration of things educational. A Minister for the whole colony, to have charge of what may be called the new Educational Department, is provided by the Bill, and to him every Board shall, before the first day of December, 1877, forward a report of their proceedings up to the thirtieth day of September previous, which we take to mean a report such as it has been customary for Boards to send to Provincial Councils through the Superintendents, at the beginning of each session. The Minister, besides, is given the power to call upon School Committees, school teachers, and the various Boards, at any time, for any information he may desire relating to matters under their control, A claua/3 of the Bill specially mentions the names of the persons who shall form the Boards of Education in certain provinces. In Canterbury it is sought to re-appoint the members of the oj.d Board with a few additions, the new one to be created under the Act, consisting of the following gentlemen: —Messrs William Montgomery, J. Ingiis, A. Duncan, J. N. Tosswill, H, H, Webb, A, G, Knight, W. Bolleston, 11. ,T. Tanered,and the JIonD-W. Stafford. Tlrsmethodof appointments certainly unusual, the mode of procedure generally adopted being, that of inserting a clause in the statute giving power to the Governor-in-Council of appointing whomever he likes and gazetting them accordißgly. Perhaps, by the

unusual course followed in this instance, it is meant to give the socalled candidates a fair test of the ordeal of Parliamentary purification. Fancy some one jumping up in committee and moving that the name of Mr. So-and-so be struck out and another substituted in its place ! The Bill retains as law all existing Provincial Ordinances or Regulations, with the exception of any parts of them which might be repugnant to the new order of things. The additional powers conferred upon the Boards are of various kinds. The may subsidise school libraries; let, for any period not exceeding twenty-one years, lands vested in them, on any terms they may think fit; exchange such lands or sell them. The proceeds are to be invested in the purchase of other lands, for school sites or as endowments for educational purposes. For similar purposes, Boards are also allowed to borrow money on the security of those lands. Miscellaneous matters of detail are to be dealt with under regulations which the Governor in Council may order from time to time. The most important part of the Bill, however, as far as this province is concerned, is that relating to the alteration in the taxation which it provides for educational purposes. From the coming into operation of the Act (the day following the prorogation of the Assembly) present rates, whether property, household, or capitation rates, are to be abolished, and, in their places, every person being the parent, or other person having the care or custody, of a child between the ages six years and fourteen years, attending, or not being exempt under the Act from attending school, shall pay a fee of one pound annually for every such child, such sum to be paid quarterly in advance ; but no person shall be liable to pay more' than two pounds in the whole, for the children of one family. The payment of those fees, it is specially provided for in the Bill, shall only become due and leviable from the first day of January next. The reasons for exempting children from attending a public school are set out as follows —That the child is, to the satisfaction of the Local School Committee, under efficient instruction elsewhere ; that there is no public school within three miles, measured according to the nearest road from where the child resides ; that the child holds a certificate of competency from an Inspector of Schools. So far as we can see, considering the lateness of the sessional hour at which the Bill is introduced, and the absolute necessity for some sort of make-shift until next session, it is very probable that it will become law without being materially altered. The question of the mode of levying the rates and of their amounts, will certainly create considerable discussion. The remainder of the Bill is not likely to raise very formidable objections. Mr C. 0. Bowen who has charge of the measure has evidently secured the assistance of Mr Montgomery in putting it together, and in those two gentlemen’s hands the interests of the Province are not likely to be neglected.