EDUCATION BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5159, 4 October 1877, Page 2

EDUCATION BILL.

Clause 8 of the Education Bill has been postponed for further consideration, a motion having been made by Colonel Kenny, in the Upper House, to strike out the 2nd subsection of the clause. The subsection referred to reads as follows: —“In payment to the board of every district of a sum of three pounds fifteen shillings for each child in average daily attendance at a public school such average daily attendance to be computed in manner prescribed by regulations;” and this is one of the appropriations by which the expenses of the department are to be administered. Although Colonel Kenny is supported by several members of the Council, we cannot but agree with Mr. Holmes that the Bill is a very good oue, and that the Council should pause before binding itself to such a course as the striking out of this subsection, by adopting Col. Kenny’s motion, which, should it be carried, fvould mean nothing more or less than the withdrawal of the Bill. The colony would then have to drag itself on till next session in its present unsatisfactory state as regards education. The following are some of the amendments and additions to be made in the Bill during its passage through committee in the Legislative Council; —

The Hon. Dr. Grace to move the following amendments': —In section 13, subsection 1, line 10, after “the day of,” to insert “determining the.”—ln subsection 2 to add the following words ;—“ Together with the total number of votes each such person shall have obtained at the nomination election by the committee.” —In subsection 3, line 3, after “ have,” to insert “ from the total aggregate of the number of votes set opposite the names of such persons, respectively, in the lists returned by the several committees.”—ln subsection 6, line 1, to omit all the words after “every election,” and insert in lieu thereof “and nomination whatever under this Act shall be by ballot, at which the cumulative principle of voting shall be enforced. Every electing householder, member of committee, and member of board shall have as many votes at each election and nomination as there are persons to be elected or nominated respectively, and shall have the right of giving all or any number of his votes in favor of one person, and the remainder to any other oue person or more persons, or of distributing his votes among the several persons to be elected in numbers and in manner as he shall think fit.”—“ In section 63, lines 8 and 9, to omit ‘ either by show of hands or by ballot, as shall be determined upon by the said meeting,’ and to insert in lieu thereof ’in the manner prescribed in section thirteen.’ ” The Hon. Mr. Miller to move the following amendment, —In clause 29, Hue 2, to omit “ and inspectors.” The Hon. Mr. Buckley to move the addition of the following new clauses :—“The committee of any school may set apart onehalf school day in every week during which any minister or ministers of religion, or person or persons appointed by them, and approved by the local committee, may impart religious instruction to such of the children on the books of the school as may belong to his or their religious denominations : Provided that ne child or children shall be allowed to attend at such instruction except on a written request to that effect addressed to the teacher by tbe parents or guardians of such children.”— “Whenever any twenty-five or more householders in any education district shall signify in writing to the Education Board of such district their desire to be constituted into a separate body for educational purposes, it shall be the duty of the board to convene a meeting of snob householders for the election of a school committee, in the manner provided in Part 111. of this Act, and it shall be lawful for the board to grant the committee so elected such aid in books, school apparatus and money.as the Board shall deem expedient, or, at the option of the committee, such aid may be granted in money only, inclusive of the value of such books and school apparatus as would otherwise be supplied by the Board :. Provided always that every such committee shall provide a schoolhouse or sohoolhouses to the satisfaction of the Board, and shall appoint and pay the teacher or teachers cf such school or schools, every such teacher having first obtained a certificate o£ competency, as provided in section fortyfour of this Act : Provided also that all books used in any such school shall be approved by the Board, and that in every respect wherein no special exception is made in this section, every such school shall be a public school under this Act, and subject to tbe provisions which this Act makes for the conduct, management, and inspection of public schools, and that every such school shall be open to all children between the ages of five and fifteen years without fee or payment of any kind,” The seventh clause of the Bill, as introduced into the House of Representatives by the Hon. the Minister of Justice, read as follows “ The Governor may from time to time appoint and remove a Secretary to the Department of Education, and ’such inspectors of schools, clerks, and other officers as may be deemed necessary. All inspectors of schools bolding office at the time of the coming into operation of this Act, under the provisions of any Act oi Ordinance repealed hereby, shall, subject to removal as aforesaid and to any express provisions of this Act, continue to act as inspectors of schools under the Minister.” Subsequently in committee it was amended to “The Governor may from time to time appoint and remove a Secretary to the Department of Education and such ‘Generallnspector’of Schools clerks, and other officers as may be deemed necessary,” thus giving the Governor the power of appointing a General Inspector only, and leaving the other inspectors to be appointed by the local bodies. In this form the clause was transmitted to the Legislative Council. In committee on it yesterday after-, noon, that body amended it so as to read, “ The Governor may from time to time appoint and remove a Secretary to the Department of Education and ‘such inspectors’ of schools and other officers as may be deemed necessary.” The clause is thus altered back to its original wording, and the appointment of all the inspectors is vested in the Governor.