Education Boards' Conference

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7924, 13 September 1905, Page 2

Education Boards' Conference

tPe» Press Asanxiftttoft.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 12, The conference of delegates from the Education Boards of tho colons; met in Wellington te-day, Mr G. W, Russell (North Canterbury), being elected Chairman. It was decided that the inspectors and secretaries should have-full prjvii logos of speaking and voting. Soma discussion took place concerning l tin presence of departmental officers atl tho conference,, hut It was decided ta be present, kllow officers of tho Department Xo Mr T. MacKenzie (Otago) mov«d-« "That in the opinion of this com ference the 'Education Conumtttee'S recommendation regarding the ext pendtturc of ordinary building votes adopted by the House two years ago have proved unsatisfactory in prao tice, and this conference recommends that the same be repealed, and (that! the powers formerly '• enjoyed fcj| Boards regarding the erection of new schools or additions be restored.'J The Chairman said what had been, happening regarding now) buildings showed the need for such There must ig something wrong Jhcn some committees thought it necew sary to ask tho Minister to make a personal visit in order to see if an additional room was required orjnot'i Everything should tend to increase the powers of the Boards', so as to give the purest form of local self* •government possible. Sir William Russell '(Hawke's Bay)' said the question was one of the independence of Boards frota Depart* inqntal .con|trol. In Hawke's Bay, where settlement was extending back into the bush, the Board had never, for twenty years tiecn in anything but a state of helpless impecuniosity.

Mr Wade '(Taranaki) said tho experience in Taranaki was quite in favour of the Education Committee's recommendation, from which Taranaki had received considerable bene fit. He would object to going back to the old system. The discussion lasted 1 the whole afternoon, the motion being eventually carried unanimously. The Conference will Inst over tt week.