THE EDUCATION BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 56, 27 July 1914, Page 4

THE EDUCATION BILL.

OONEEIIIiNCK AT WANGANUI. Per Press Association. Eeilding, July 25. The members of the Wanganui Education .Hoard with Mr. G. n. Braik (chief inspector) and Air. Swanger (secretary) he.d a conference here vewterday and considered the .Education Bill. It was arranged that Mr. Braik should give evidence and if possible the chairman Mr. Pirani, before the Education Committee of Uii'c House. Amongst the' anomalies objected to was the proposal to pay head teachers and assistants in girls' schools and infant schools £llO and £4O a year respectively less than simi.ar teachers in mixed schools. HAWEE'fS BAY COMMENTS Hastings, July 25. At a meeting of the Napier branch of the Ilawke's Bay Educational Institute this l morning, a sub-comimdttee was appointed to inquire into anomalies and inadequacies of the new salaries srih'cme in the Education Bill and forward a report to the Minister of Education through the executive. A resolution was carried congratulating the Government on the introduction of an Education Bill on broad and Btatesmanlike lines but expressing the opinion that the maximum: salary should be £3OO and house allowance, tlhe minimum £l2O and house aEowancc, and that intermediate grades be made to correspond; further, that teachers be paid on efficiency fcnd length oi service, and not on attendance of pupil*.

THE- QUESTION OF FINANCE* Gore, Last Night. At a meeting of the Gore High School \ Board of Governors the provisions of ] the Education Bill were* discussed. It ] was decided to point out to the Minisiter that under the Bill the finance of unendowed high school* would be seriously affected by the provision tihat I £l2 10s per pupil'of capitation he paid jin salaries. The Board considers that ' this capitation for unendowed schools j should be at least £ls per pupil. Special I grants for improvement! locally are extra. • j CHAMBER OF COMMERCB PROTESTS The touncil of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce has passed a resolution against the elimination of the Taranaki Education Board, and suggesting extended boundaries for the present district. TSAOHERS' INSTITUE FAIRLY SATISFIED. The tone of a discussion on the Education Bill at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Teachers' Institute was one of general satisfaction, though forcible reference was made to several anomalies in the Bill from the point of view of the profession. The president (Mr. H. Stratford), hi briefly outlining the provisions of the Bill, said it provided for the appointment of a Council of Education, the reduction in the number of Boards from 13 to nine, and the introduction of a new Board in South Auckland. The centralisation of the Inspectorate was also provided for, and in this respect he thought all members of the Institute would support the bill. There was, moreover, a reduction in the number of grades in schools, so that the fluctuation j in salaries would not be so pronounced as formerly. Special provision waß made regarding transfers, and no teacher would be penalised unless he had refused a transfer. No provision was made", however; for the direct appointment of teachers by the Boards, which was what the Institute had been advocating for some time. The salaries of pupil teachers had not been sufficiently increased, and the payment on a basis of average attendance was still present. He thought, however, that many of the anomalies under the Bill would disappear when it come into operation. On the whole, he thought the bill would meet with general satisfaction.' He moved a resolution expressing satisfaction at the forward movement as to salaries and other points mentioned, and objection to it on points raised by him. Mr Pope disagreed somewhat. He would like forcible reference to the absolute, injustice of payment on a basis of average attendance instead of on efficiency and service. Mr. 0. Johnson agreed. At the same time, he urged that a committee be set up to go fully and carefully into the bill. The teachers were more poorly paid than any other branch of civil servants, and the Bill did not remedy that sufficiently. * Mr. Stratford disagreed with the establishment of a committee, which could not obtain the variety of opinion available at a full meeting. Eventually the president's resolution was discussed clause by clause. - Varying opinions were expressed as to the establishment of a Council of Education, some approving of it, some disagreeing, and others expressing the opinion that it was not a matter for discussion by the Institute. Payment on average attendance was also discussed, some members contending that the Bill, while not entirely removing the evil, had at least by the alterations in the system of grading improved the position. Sick pay was also referred to, and the necessity urged by Mr. Mail for a Dominion scale of sick pay. Mr. Mail contended that there had not

been the general increase in salaries, especially in grade V. schools, which had been long asked for by the profession and recently promised by the Minister. He moved that the Institute should point out this to the Minister. Mr. A. V. Sims contended that pavinent on the basis of average attendance could net be altogether avoided. The remedy lay in equitable grading, and in this respect the Bill failed some what, as some grades of teachers were in a better position than others. THE KRfiOUJTTOXS.

Eventually the following resolutions were carried unanimously:—That t!iis ineetiii"; expresses its appreciation generally of the provisions of the Education Bill, especially in regard to the forward move in connection with salaries, the establishment of a Council of Education, the enlargement of the education districts, the staffing of schools and the transfer of teachers, but points out that there are anomalies still existing, such as payment on attendance, appointment of teachers, .and the absence of anj,; provision for transfer expenses or for a Dominion scale of sick pay, the removal of which anomalies would make the Bill even more valuable to the cause of education.

i That tiie attention of the Minister be | called to tlie small increase of salary in schools witli an average attendance of from 31 to 120. Mr Mcllroy read a telegram from the secretary of the Wairarapa branch of the Institute, asking the meeting to urge the provision of house allowance for male first assistants. A resolution was passed accordingly.

Copies of these resolutions will be sent to the M's.P. for Taraiiaki and the executive of the New Zealand Institute, with the request that they be laid before the Education Committee of tha House.