Education Districts.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 292, 19 May 1915, Page 7

Education Districts.

| PROPOSED RE-ARRANGEMEXT. j SITTING OF COMMISSION. IX FAVOR off RETENTION OF TAiUViKI. WEIGHTY EVIDENCE The Commission appointed by the Government to tal " evidence relative to the proposed altera! ; oii in tin- education district boundaries .-at at the TaranaKi Education Board'-' otiiu- yesterday. The Commission comprises: Messrs D. Thomson (chairma;:), G. M. Tuomson, M.P., D. iPetrie. J. Strauchan and 0. Hogben. Before the Goinmission opened, Mr. H. J. Okoy. M.P. for Taraiiaki, welcomed the Commissioners tb New Plymouth. The chairman of the Commission briefly returned thanks.

'MR. TaiMllT.E'S EVIDENCE. Mr. 11. Trimble, chair,aan of the Taranaki Education Hoard, stated that he had endeavored i« prevent evidence oE the witnesses ovoilappim:. lie said it was the opinion of the Taranaki Education Board that there should be nine education districts, four in the South Island and .five in the North Island. In the South Island, on the/school rolls at the end of 1012 there were roughly 72,000 children, while the number in the Korth Island was Pd.OOO. If the South Island were divided into four education disfrets, each Hoard would have under its ■ mtroi JS.OOfI children, and if the Kortu Island were divided into five education districts each board would have control of I<I,MD children. For 1912 the total number of schorls in the South Island was. in round numbers. 1000. and. in the 'North Island'l-200. There would jceordingly he 2of> school; in each district. Again, by the adoption'of nine districts, the promotion "areas could he more equably adjusted as far as promotion to the larger schools was concerned. In the South Island there, was a total of 51 schools in grade VIII". (old classification) and upwards. That would mean 12 of these schools to each of the four districts. In the North Island the number cf such schools was (11—that is also 12 to each of the five districts. A more important factor, however, to be taken into consideration when determining areas of promotion was to arrange matters so that each district may have about the same number of what might be termed "backbone" schools, that was. schools that offered a fair salary and ■which the majority of teachers might reasonably look forward to for promotion. The schools referred to were those in grade IV. to grade VTI., in-

elusive. Iu the South Island there were 335 of these schools—roiishly 84 to each of the proposed four districts —whilst in the North Island there were 424—55 to each of the proposed five districts. Maps were submitted giving some indication cf how be more equably divided into five districts than it was at present.

Mr. Trimble al°o submitted a table showing the number of schools in each grade in the proposed districts, and pointed out that during the past five years the number of children of school age had increased by 13,742 in the North Island, as against an increase of 0010 in the South Island, whilst the number of schools had increased by 13'2 and CO respectively. If the same increase continued the North Island would soon be entitled to fix districts. The Taranaki education district consisted at present of the counties of Clifton. Taranaki, Whangamomona. Kpmont and Stratford, and he suppested that there should he added to it *the counties of Kawhia, Awakino, Waitomo. West Taupo. Ohura. Waimate West. Kltliam, TTawcra. and (Paten. The number of schools in the present Taranaki district was as follows:—Oracle 0: 1; 1., 25: 11.. 24: lILa. 37: m.b, 5: IV.a, 2: V.n. 2; Vl.a, 1: VII.a. 1: VTT.e, 1: total, 00. The number of schools in the prowed district according to the old classification would be as follows fl. 7: 1.. 3H; 11.. 4!; 111. 35: IV., 61; V., 10; VI.. 3: VII.. fi; "VTII.. 1; IX., 2: X., 1; total, 100. Suefa a district could he easily worked from New Plymouth, as communication by road and railway was pood and convenient. It might' be contended that the ecastal districts of TCawhia and Awakino were not easily accessible, but the roads were fairlv pood, p.nd unless the people of New Plymouth intended that their harbor should be only a glorified coastal port, the time must come before long when they would see that it was nccesary to establish a line of steamers to trade to the s'nall port>along the coast and feed the larger port at New Plymouth, communication would then be easy. The Taranaki province ■was already one of the most closclv settled parts of the Dominion, and with improved roads and better methods of farming there was every probability that subdivision of the land would be carried much further, for there was no doubt that most of the land could be made to produce, much more than it did at present. There was a tendency to centralise administration not only in education, but he had always been of opinion that in the long run local administration would give the best?results, local interest would easily he destroyed much more easily than it could be revived, while although it might be contended that centralisation was less expensive, the economy was gained at the expense of local interest. Uniformity should not be the aim, but rather diversity, each district working out its destiny on lines suited to its own locality, for' what might be suitable in one place might he quite unsuitable in another.

A district such as suggested with New Plymouth as its centre would bo quite large enough for ordinary administrative •purposes, all parts would he within | easy touch of headquarters, there would he a fair area for promotion of teachers (thouuh when the teachers have been graded end el,--Mfcd to one system throughout, the Berninion this should be of liith- consequence'!. ar.d the members of the Heard probable scattered over the whole area would keep in easv touch with tlie different parts ot fho'di-frVt. One di advantage of very large districts was the lack of ncrsonal ooinmurfication between the members of the Board, the teachers. electors, inspectors and secretary. If the distances to be travelled were too groat, teachers or members of school committees could conveniently meet with the secretary or (he eliai-man, and such meetings very often hal to tlie smoothing awav of difllcnltie:. which though often trivial they sometimes appeared to be of much consequence. Were this education district to he meiaed into Wanganui there would be the greatest disatisfaetion among the people at this. end. who had no common interest with Wanganui. and their representation on an amalgamated board would he so small as to be practicaly nothing.

Some discussion ensued on the question of roavo-outation. Mr. Trimble held'that u-' l "' ('"■ ba-ds the present Taranaki di-iiht would only he entitle,] to two representatives on the combined board. The chairman said that the Act would not come into operation until August, 1 !>!(!. hy which time Xew Plymouth would have reached a population c■A« im , e/r.d a-, an urban dis-

J trict would l" 1 c:it:':e:l to two represonItativi".. '! i.era.-.l 01 Taranaki would i.e. entitled Li) two members. , Mr. Triaofe Mauuninci that the town

n-pro.-entaLoii would ho cut of all proportion to i.'•,: n.iiutry representation. The chaiiman staled that they could not critic':...- il.e. A.". in r; :.-••' to :i farther question, llr. Trimble saU that he had asked lor no cxprcs: i<it <■' opinion f.'om the counties lull -proposed to include within the Taraiiaki district. Mr. lloghen pointed out that the district proposed by the Education Board would not a fiord such opportunities for promotion as did. the proposed Wanga-nui-Tarana'-i amalgamation. In the proposed di-t' : ct schools under grade 3 were ."GO of the total number, grade 3 31 per ci'it.. and over grade II !).4. - The fimires for the whole Dominion were: Cndcr grade 3, 57.-!; grade 3, 2!U; and over grade 3. 13.4. For Wanganui and Taraiiaki as proposed the figures were: racier grade 3, 51 "2; grade 3, 3(1; over 3, 12.8. For the average teacher of far ability the chances of promotion were greater in the combined TaranaidWar.ganui district, and were a good deal i-ri ater for lnuhers who desired the •>oii;is, The pvosc.it Taranaki district was better in this respect than the district outlined hy tiie Hoard. Mr. Hogben asked if the district were made attracts e to teachers, wcu'd it not mean that they would pet- better teachers, and as a result the children would get the benefit.

Mv. Trimble did not think that the question of promotion affected the position. That depended upon the Dominion c!;;~silU-atio:i. and the Department c:.ul-l fece the hands of the Hoard, a tood deal in tile matter of promotion. He stated that he had evidence to submit to show that ieci-hing in Taranaki had not tern wore than in other districts: in fact, that it had been better. He pointed out also that settlement was rapidly becoming closer in the northern parts of the proposed district, and the percentage of smaller schools would rapidly become less. MR. WILKINSON'S VIEWS.

Mr. C. A. Wilkinson. M.P. for Egmont, with experience of school committees, considered that it was a good suggestion that Eltha.m s'Wd he attached to Taranaki. The EHham School Committee we.-, favorable to the proposal. The matter had been discussed by l!ou<=eholdcrs, who were in favor of the idea, but no 'resolution had been passed. Messrs Dixon and O'Den. of lfawera. were the nearest representatives o? the Wangaru! Board to Eltham. Hawcra and Patea. as far as he knew, preferred to be retained nmlcr the Wanganui Hoard. Po:arding Waimate West, he thought that its interests would be better served, r.s weald the whole district, by being included in the Taranaki education d'strict. Referring to the quality of the teaching in the Taranaki district, he stated that though there was a district hinh school in Eltham, it only had 20 punils in its secondary department, whereas Stratford, seven miles away, had 139 pupils in its secondary department. Many of these pupils journeyed by train from E'tham, in the Wanganui district, thus showing -preference for the teaching supplied by the Taranaki education district. Taranaki was essent'ally a farming district, and if territory fiPiher ?ri.[<\\ were-taken in it was just possible that pupils would not get the exact tuition they wanted. As time went on there would lie an insistent demand for tuition in special subjects peculiar to the district. There were great developments in dairying in ♦"" province, which should be controlled from a centre within itself. To the chairman: lie considered that Wanganui was a 'progressive Board, but so was Taranaki.

To Mr. Hogben: He recognised that taere were a good many divisions of agricultural work which would require separate experts, and these would be 'better supplied in a larger district, which he said was another argument in favor of increasing the size of Taranaki.

Continuing, Mr. Wilkinson said tliat while the northern portion proposed to lie taken in the Taranaki education district was sparsely settled at present it was likely to lie quickly developed. As far as he was concerned, lie would 'ke to see the whole of the old Taranaki province under the Taranaki Education. Hoard. Patea people would be better served by Wangamii. In reply to a question, lie said that Te Kuiti would possibly be better served by Auckland. ~e was not there to give definite evidence on that point. Continuing, lie said that Taranaki as a province was one of the most expansive. It had the greatest export in the Dominion and would grow rapidly. It had had its education district for 40 years, and it would be indicting a wrong if its education hoard were abolished. Mr. Hogben: How does that affect to reduce 13 districts to 9, S or 7.

Mr. Wilkinson remarked that it was proposed to add another district in the Xorth Island. Taranaki from the point of view of population was progressive, lis area was not large, but the land was of good quality, as was shown by tile fact that its exports were £32 pelhead of population, as asainst Xelson's Hi Ws. Mr. Hogben: How does that effect promotion of teachers?

Mr. Wilkin-on considered that the promotion of teachers was not everything. Taranaki had a port which was rapidly approaching completion, which could berth Home liners, and this would alter the whole aspect of Taranaki. tl would add to the trading facilities and the population of the town would increase. It would greatly alter the status of Taranaki as a province in the very near future, and he did not like to see a backward step. He felt sure that the Taranaki people were opposed to joining Wangamii.

105. R. MASTER'S EVIDENCE. Mr. li. Meters, of Stratford, for A'/a years a member of the Taranaki Educa-' tioii Board, gave evidence as to the means of communication over tlie proposed now district whose area lie defined. Continuing, lie said that the counties in Southern Taranaki, which were not included in tile present Hoard's district were Patoa, liawera, Waimate Wist and i art of Kltliam. These were in the Taranaki province, and it seemed t natural thai whatever additions were to lie nude to tin- prc-euf boundaries that tke.-e should be included in tile new Taranaki Izard's district. The means of communication existing at 'present | between Nov.- Plymouth and the various ! couiilie; mentioned were almost ideal. The roads jn tlie main, branching oil' the railway servile were < xecllont, and there was hardly a school even away from tlie raihvav lint what the inspector-, could evaminc in tlie one day and return to >'cw ,!'lv ndi. Further, a start had hen, made with the Opunake railway, with provision made for ii branch line to Manaia. which would within a very short time further improve the already convenient means of communication for the working of the southern part of the province. There was a community of interest, existing, natiira'lv, in the whole of the -province that did not c';i<t. in any other province, and whatever additions were made to the Taranaki district should include the whole province, further, the time was not far distant when direct steamers v.v,uM he trading with the XoW Plymouth port, when the whole of tile produce of the province would he carried through that port, and this would certainly have (he effect of bringing the. southern part of the province even in i closer (ouch with the northern, the inj terests of (he north being the inter- | c.-'l-; of the south, and vice versa. Re-

I garding the Taranaki and Egrnont counties, there existed ut the present time a motor service running twice daily between New Plymouth and Opunake, and a survey had been made by the Government to ascertain the cost of making a railway between those two towns. This no doubt would be an accomplished fact in a few years and would have pro- j liably been started in a very short time but for the present abnormal conditions. The settlers of the district in the couu- II ties mentioned were prepared to rale themselves, if necessary, as security for , a loan for the construction of the rail- j way if the Government were not pre- I pared to carry out the work, and a Bill j was put through Parliament last sen- i sion giving them the necessary powci j Tin; Stratford and Whangamomona | counties were already served by a railway service to Wliangamoinona, while the Public Works Department runs a passenger service from Whangamomona to Kohuratahi, a further distance of live miles. The Tahora tunnel was now pierced, and approximately throe hundred men were working between the Tahora tunnel and the town of Tahora, So that one would be justified in stating that there was every likelihood that a

railway connection will be completed in j the next two years between New Plymouth and Tahora, a distance of 85 miles. Between Whangamomona .and Ohura there was a coach service, and in the summer time motor-cars could Without any difficulty run from Stratford to_ Ohura. The Stratford-Alain Trunk railway was in course of construction between Ongarue -and Stratford, and while not anticipating a connection would be made for a fow r years, nevertheless provision was made for connecting the Ohura county with Taraiiaki. When that obtained all the business interests of that comity -would be identical with those of Taranaki, the whole of which -was at present going through Auckland. A number of gentlemen representing the business interests and local bodies from Unit district visited Taranaki two months ago with a view to securing the co-operation of Taranaki in doing their utmost to secure the completion of the railway, so that they could have connection with the port of New Plymouth. This showed that the interests of these outlying districts are Puked up with the Taranaki ll'roviuce. Regarding Clifton, Awakino and Kawliia Counties, there was a daily motor and eciv-h service between Now Plymouth, and a motor-boat service from Kinohaka at. Awakino to the Kawliia township. The Government had a large nr-nib. r of men opening u-p the roads in the northern district, and a very large amount of money is being spent to provide suitable roads for coach and motor services. From Kawhia to the Main Trunk railway there was at the present time a suitable coach service. Tlie Main Trunk railway runs through the centre of the Waitomo County, aiid this provided all that is required for the working of that county from an educational point of view. In the west Taupo district the schools ale very few and far between, and, in any case, "mostly Native schools, and could be' easily worked from the Main Trunk railway. He doubted if there was any district in the whole of the Dominion which -was so well provided for in the matter of travelling conveniences. Taranaki was easily the most closely settled province in Xew Zealand, and demanded the trav-elling-facilities that at present cvst. He asked the commission io note this point. On account of the increased price of land which would necessarily demand more intense cultivation, and together with the development of the back country, the population of Taranaki was still likely to increase at a ercatcr rate than that of the other parts of tin- Dominion. Mr. 'Masters referred to the iact that the board was taking a very active interest in agricultural work. Tie pointed out that the hoard had Iwo instructors, one of whom went round the district giving lectures to farmers and instructing their sons, while anothei instructor devoted liim»elf to the primary schools. The chairman stated that the facilities for inle:-communication were in favor of larger districts. To Mr. Pct.'o: lie did not know the districts of Taupo and Waitomo. He thought Te Kuiti would be much nearer Xew Plymouth than Auckland when the Ohura railway was completed. Inspection of the map showed that Te Kuiti would be 140 miles from Xew Plymouth, whereas it was only 120 miles from Auckland.

To the Chairman: lie did not know how Wanganni came to have the Southern Taranaki eount'cs included in its district, but lie understood that the means of communication between _ North and South Tn.rannki were not" verv good in the early days. It was pointed out that the counties had since been subdivided. STRATFORD SCHOOL MASTER'S EVIDENCE. Mr. F. A. Tvrer, head master of the Stratford District High School, gave evidence to show that the standard of education was as high in Taranaki as in any other district. His school was in a very progressive district, and he had ample opportunities of noting the work of newly arrived children, both from other districts and from Taranaki. Taking English and arithmetic, new arrivals from other district!. Here' very rarely better, and seldom as good, as his own pupils, whereas children from other schools in his own district were as good, and often better. lie also pointed out that in competitive examinations for scholarships open to the whole of the Dominion, and in which uniform papers were set, by the Department, Taranaki had a higher percentage than any other board in the Dominion. This showed that the Taranaki Board did excellent work . 'Members of the commission considered that the figures submitted were not exhaustive, as they did not show the number of candidates that sat from each district. Mr. Tyivr nl-:o referred (o the secondary and technical work done in the dhtnit as outlined by other speakers.

SCilnuß COMMITTEE'S VIEWS. Mr. <l. S. While, secretarv to the i Taranaki School Committees' .Associa- ' lion, strongly urged that the Taranaki ' education district, should he retained, with headquarters at Xew Plymouth, as ■U piwnl. :.n,[ the boundaries of the p.-.-ent district ceiiHo.rabie enlarged. They believed that the removal of the koao,,;:ar!.-rs tl \,i:i 'l- ;ir jii!:-.ki would he detrimental to edm-alion in (his district: (hat the pupils in this dislrH. were, generally speaking, educated to a higher standard than in most; districts; that the co mmitlcemen of Taranaki were well sntisiLd with (he results attained, and they wore of the opinion that this high stamhrd wou'd he better maintained if thi control was in the Taranaki district. Thev were of (lie opinion that relatively 'small districts were (.referable, as the beard, inspectors, teaches and coiumifloonic n were in personal touch and could help one another better, and, on 11m other hand, there was less likelihood of rmsundorstandim's arising. This ili-'i'-t. even w!!h eulai--. Ed boundaries, w0v.1,1 he bidder worked from this end tha-i i..,m, sac. Warn/a - nni 'file suggesti,),-, that larger districts would give greater scope for promotions, etc.. to teachers could be met bv a dominion scheme of cla-iheaf ion similar (o that in ,-. a-a( : - „ ;.. »'l»r leaueiios of )!.,. fill,];,. Service. Dealing i-criatim with the reasons advanced for fie .vtenlh,,, of (he Taranaki li,trict. he miinfel oul (!•;,( Taraeal.-i ■■■<-■ a lnr-c grovvimv district: so far if ,iad only touched (he fringe of real dovoloni:'c:i'\ Its cue:-!")-.;:; natural resource.'.

so far undeveloped, marked it out for a great future, and with its -possibilities it would bo detrimental to the district to be controlled from outside the province. The conference or committeemen

representing 70 per cent, of the children attending schools under the control of . the Taranaki Board, unanimously resolved to urge that the Taranaki dis- | trict should he enlarged to include at least the whole of the -provincial di-: II trict of Taranaki. It had often been remarked by those in authority that children coming from other districts had frequently to be put back a standard because they were not sufficiently grounded to remain in the same standard as at the school they had left. A pupil of the Fitzroy School (a suburb of New Plymouth) headed the list for dunior National Scholarships in 1!U1, and pupils from other schools had also done well in the National scholarship examinations.

Assuming that the commission decided (o retain, five education districts in the North Island, it would he in theli opinion essential to make the Taranaki Province one of the districts. Should, however, the decision be in favor of reducing the number to four, one. of which would take in the present Taranaki education district and that now included in Wanganui. say, as far south as Marton. the chief point to he considered would be what centre would be the best suited for the headquarters of the new board. Xew (Plymouth was not far from the middle of the coast line of the suggested district, and was easily reached from Mohan, Opunake or Wanganui. If, however, the headquarters were located, say, at Wanganui, it would take two days for a representative li-om tlio north of New Plymouth, or from the coast down to Opunake, to attend the board meetings. From the north, say, L'ruti, on the one hand, and the south, say, Okato, on the other side, if, would really take four days, should committeemen desire to wait on the board as a deputation. On the Whangamomona line there were only two days (and one is a Saturday) on which a representative could reach or return from Wanganui on the same day. This linn of railway was a growing one, and in a very short time would be a most important one in the development of this district.

A representative, who was a member of the board, and received travelling expenses, might be able to attend board mi clings, but members of committees who desired to depiitatioiii.se the board would lie barred, owing to the serious !>-. of time and the expenses. Personal

interviews on important matters were me.h more satisfactory than writing loiters. 'Larger districts would not be so s'rtable for teachers who desired information first hand from the hoard. The last conference earnestly considered the positions of the teaching profession in regard to pay and promotion, and it was unanimously resolved:—That the salaries of teachers, especially of Ihoio entering the profession, should be brought into line with those paid to other branches of the Public Service. This showed that they had the interests of teachers at heart. In regard to increasing the scope of promotions for teachers, the conference of committeemen was unanimously in favor of a dominion scheme of classification for teachers, similar to that enjoyed, especially by the Hallway and Post'and Teleera;.:! Departmet.

To the Chairman: Even if Wanganui and Taranaki districts were combined, and the district went as far as Foxton. he was of the opinion that the district would be equally as well served from .Vow Plymouth as a centre as from Wanganui. Mr. Phillip Skoghmd, chairman of the Stratford District High School Committee, gave evidence from the point ol view of a committeeman of 'a large school. He first expressed his satisfaction at the manner in which the education district of Taranaki had been managed in the past. There was no doubt that community of interest had largely been responsible for this. If this"interest was removed, the efficiency would be impaired, lie referred to the inter''■■t taken in the schools bv parents. This was because they were a Taranaki institution. If governed from outside Taranaki, that interest would slacken. Tie also protested against Taranaki being wiped out on patriotic and sentimental grounds. Taranaki had an identity peculiarly its own, and Taranaki people were intensely luyii] and proud of local institutions. He considered that the Taranaki district should be on larged to take in the whole of the Taranaki Province. This would be more iu the interests of education than to make Taranaki an appendage of a place in which the people had no interests. Children in Taranaki to-day were the descendants of those pioneers who fought and died for their country on Taranaki soil, and it would be a calamity to take from them the distinction id belonging to n Taranaki institution. There were other grave objections to joining Wanganui. At present teachers under the Taranaki Board had exceptional facilities for meeting their inspectors and conferring on school matters. On Saturday teachers could spend five hours in New Plymouth, whereas they could not do so if Wanganui were the headquarters. He also referred to Hie increase in the number of school children in the north as against the south, and stated that the' population of Taranaki was as likely to increase ns in any other part of the North Island.

The chairman! said that Taranaki would probably have four representatives on the enlarged Wanganui Board, which lent itself admirably for subdivision.

Mr. Petrie pointed out that under the enlarged board it would still be possible for one inspector to reside in New Plymonth.

Mr. C. I). Solo, for Hftocn years mem-!)i-r or chairman of tin; Stratford District llie.li School Comuiittcc, jrsivo evidence regarding community of interest that would exist if the Taranaki Kducation district boundaries were co-lor-minus with tli- old provincial boundaries, lie- considered one of the chief reasons why the Taranaki schools Were so cllicieut was because the members of the board came from various parts of the disfriet and were in touch with all the .schools, lie pointed out that even if Xcf Plymouth had two members the rest of Taranaki would have two members e.l-o. who infill, be eY;',cd fr<nii one locality. This'would not (end .1" ellicici-.cy. lie knew that Kltham ; favored beiii;* inc-!u,!e<l in Taranaki. The chairiiian pointed „ut that the number of s.-hool chihlren in the propoed |.ri,vin--ial di-lr-l would onlc he iilUO, wlierca; Wan-uuii district 'now i-oin;-rise,l ncu'ly 1 infill, and at present controlled a mod portion of the Taranaki 'l'rovill; e. IVfcrrin.T to Knivhin, Mr. Sole said il.

wuuW be a disadvantage io (lie Tarnnaki Hoard to take over Kawllia, which contained only Hi:"; children—namely, one grade 111. school and seven schools under grade lit. ill!. TUNE'S ]• VIOKXrK. Mr. .T. P. Tline, M.P. for Stratford referring io (he question (hat bad been vii-ed regarding promotion, said that he did not think (his ,lmuld enter into the question at all. ,"s j|. was the infe.dion of (be /,.(. (],,, ... ~i: - -siii,.! , (-ion ■'bee',' sbruld rv.jiiv to the whole of (be Dominion. I'r referred (o the co-.'er- '■'■'■ '■' ■' ■''< 's of Parliament, in whirl. il bed ben agreed that Waimato West ami Kliba-v. Counties should he added i" (he T.ramiki district. This would have been embodied in the Act had there been (he same unanimity in the. oihe.- districts. TTe could not see why, if there were to he five districts in the

North Island, Waikato should be created and Taranak'i cut up. lie did not desire to wipe out Wanganui.

The chairman said the inclusion of those figures would make a small district, of less than RUilO pupils, or only la"0 larger than the present Taranaki I district. It would also include a number of small schools that would prejudice it in the eves of teachers. . '-.Mr. lloghen stated that the commission was tied down regarding the number of districts. They could not abolish a. small district in the South Island and leave one of a similar size in the north.

In reply to a question. Mr. Iline admitted that districts containing higher grade schools oll'cred better inducements to teachers.

RICV. CIIAP'PEEL'S EVIDENCE. The T!ev. ,\. P.. Chappoll, M.A., a member of the Central School Committee, who had been for a number of years on school committees, both primary and secondary, and also on the I'niversity Council of the Canterbury College, and who also had been two years organising secretary throughout Xew Zealand, gave evidence. Speaking in general, and from a knowledge of the Dominion generally, he considered that the boundaries of the district as outlined by the Taranaki Education Hoard should appeal to the commission. If there was to be a reduction of the number of districts, they would have to consider various things, lie referred to the certain development of the area under discussion, its growth of population, with the increase of wad communication. Tie considered that it was probable that, in airy to establish six districts in the Xorth Island. The commission would

have to make a compromise, am! he felt hoard would meet, present needs. Eventually, there would he need for a Waikato district, but not at present. Referring to the number of lower grade school.: -and the standard of teaching, he <aid that the number of cross-roads being opened up meant that two lower irrado schools would combine and make one higher grade school, and he gave instances of this. This would reduce the percentage of low grade schools. Tf it was,decided to form the new Egmont Hoard by combining Taranaki and Wanganui, he considered that Xew Plymouth with its present equipment and organisation would he the better centre.

The chairman pointed out that Wanganui appeared to be the more central, ns the. pro-posed district extended to Foxt.on. Such a district 'would lend itself admirably to cutting up into three wards, each with two urban and two country 'representatives— namely, Palme'-slon North, Wanganui and New Plymouth.

lIH\"ICI.!)P.MIC\"T Of TAHAXAKr. ■Mr. W. ,T. Penn, editor of the Taranaki Herald and member of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, gave evidence dealing with the development and progress, past and prospective, of the provincial district of Taranaki. Of the 2,4 , 12,(K)0 aires of land in the district, only 1.31)8,271 acres was under occupation, and from this latter total a considerable area must be deducted as not having reached the producing stage. This land was supporting about fi!i,s!") ■people, which, taking the "Dominion proportion, means a primary public school population of about 8700. The Taranaki education district was constituted when the total population of the province was only S7-H, and the school population only 72G. Owing to the difficulties of communication between North and South Taranaki in 1577, the southern part of the province was placed under the jurisdiction of the Wangaiina Education Hoard. Those difliculties, however, no longer exist In fact, the whole provincial district, except the extreme southern end, below Hawera, could now be reached more conveniently from Xew Plymouth than from Wanganui, and in his- opinion the education district should be co-terminus with the provincial district. It would then have a school population exceeded only by seven education districts in the Dominion. Between ISfll and 1(101. the population of the pro\ initial district increased 73 per cent., and between 1001 and KUI, 35 per cent. Assuming that it continued to grow only at the latter rale, there will be 71,0(10 people in the district in 1021, giving a school population of nearly 11,000. Hut there was good givund for the belief that the population n-ill increase at a greater rate in the future, for, not only was there a very large area of hind yet to come under occupation, but the production per acre, was increasing in a marked manner on account of a better system of fanning and closer subdivision. In the dairying district* the tendency was in the direction of smaller holdings on account of the better results thus obtainable. An authentic instance could lie given of a farm of less than fifty acre.-) returning a gross income of over .CImO in twelve months. This was exceptional, of course, but the land was no better than that surrounding it, the difi'orence being that it was better farmed. It was obvious that a general raising of the standard of fanning —which was, undoubtedly, now in progress -and a lowering of the average r.n-x of holdings would enable the land now under occupation to carry a far greater population than it did at pre,sent. The district, was being steadily opened up and developed; roads were being pushed into the back country, and two railways were in course of construction —from Stratford to the Main Trunk line and from Te Roti to Opunake. The former was completed to about forty-two miles form Stratford, and would prove a factor in reducing Hie size of holdings by enabling dairying to be undertaken where grazing is now the rule. Por the»e reasons he was confident that theie would be a large and steady growlu in the rural population of Taranaki ior many years to come, lie believed also that the. urban population would increase rapidly. New Plymouth had now a population estimated at 7li-5, but the early inauguration of regular shipping services with Home ports, the introduction of electric tramways now under construction, the probability of a meat freezing industry being soon established in the neighborhood, and other factors afforded reasonable

ground for believing that the growth iif Hie town in the near future would ije far above normal. Other towns, in (lie provincial district, such as Waitara, iuglcHuod, Stratford, Klthaiu ami. iia'■vera, wcie steadily growing, and might i'e eq.ccteti to continue to do so. thus affording ,vhn!. was desired from an educations)! juiinL of view - centres with large schools, lie had liased his lorecast of tae growth of Taranaki mainly on the luniL factor, but lie would like to aild that as the rural population grows urban industries would spring into existence, and ill course of time Taranaki might become an important manufacturing district, since it possessed one of the first essentials of success in that direction—abundant water power. In concluMou, he felt strongly that it would be an injustice to Taranaki to remove the control of educational matters in the district to Waimanui or elsewhere. On the other hand', the extension of the. boundaries to include the whole of the provincial area, and possibly 'portions of the .Auckland district more easily accessible from this end than from Auckland, would give a fairly compact district with a large and •Mr.' "I'Viin slated that there was a strom; feeling that Taranaki should not he abolished in favor of Wi.nganui. Sow Plymouth was completely isolated until after (.lie Maori war. it had no community of interest with TTaworn, and Patea, and no access except through hos-

tile territory. l f or years now a feeling liiid been growing in South Taranaki iu favor of Xew Plymouth,

'J'hc. chairman said that -Mr. Dixon stroiuriv favored Wanganui. lie pointe.l i.;il that tile two districts combined would only total 'iO.OUO pupils, wliieli was just an average based on nine districts for the Dominion.

'Mr. I'ei;n considered that mi:-!i an amalgamated district c'onld lie better worked from New Plymouth.

O'iTJ'EK EVIDKM'r;. Mr. It. A. S. Jlrowne, c.ipcn isor of agriculture and director of technical education in the North Wanganui district for tile past six years, gave evidenee against cutting out anv of the Kltham, llawora, W'aimato West, I'atea and Waitotara Counties from the W'an-gamii-district, lie specially referred to JCllham, irawera and Waiina;c 'West, wiiese objections Were liased on the ground that the technical wor'c of the Wanganui Education Hoard wiv; already organised. They had also classes for farmers in every centre, and had developed this to such an extent that they now took charge of the farms and were responsible for manures, cropping, etc. Tim final development of this scheme look jilaec last June, and until the end of December they had put through 2H(f individual fanners. This included this work could not be done bytheTaraliers of farmer classes maintain that this work could not be done !;yt!ie T<>;auaki Hoard, and they ivould rather cut the work right out if the district came under the Tfl.rar.iiki .Board. The (•less members had fanned themselves in'o an associalion as an advisun' e\outive, ami he couU definitely 'state that tin; executive objected to being cut (■■Pi' from "Wanganui. 'Plus scheme'came to the country district-* around KHliam town, which would come in within a month. ]To enumerated thiiteen p'nces in South Taruiiaki where classes were held.

To the Chairman: There wore about thirty members (.n tlio executive. Ho could say definitely tliut the farming eominunit\ of South Taranaki, as well as tlic til,,-], of lUwera, was opposed to separation from Wanganui. Kltham town would probably prefer Taranaki. Mr. Okey stated that lie liad a number of resolutions from school committee?, chambers of commerce, and*other interested bodies, taking that the boundaries of the 'l'aramiki education district should bo co-terminus with the provincial boundaries,

Mr. Whetter. an inspector for n'no years under the board, pave evidence in ;;i'.pporL of the figures submitted by 'Mr. T.\rer. The:-e wore, he said, introduced (o enrphasi.se the iact that probably too largo a district would not do as eliieient work as reasonably small districts. To arrive at this, they compared the work done in Taranaki, a small district with I ha!, done in a large district. .Ml the figures dealt with primary' work. lie

said that, it was not feasible to take the number of proficiency certificates issued in each district, because these cn:iinflations varied with the personality of the inspector. They therefore took an examination in which the children of the Dominion met on common e.round—namely, the Junior National Scholarship and the Hoard Scholarship. ICvery district tried to gain as many scholarships as possible, fie took the number who qualified, not (hose who were aetiifjlv awarded scholarships, because the latter depended on the financial position of the respective board:!. Wostland was the highest with 7.0 per 10(10, then c.rms Taranaki 7, Wellington (I. and Wanganui 4. He recognised that the commission was bound down to five districts for the North Island and four for the south as a maximum, but they might suggest to Parliament, that it would be in (he interests of education to have six for the North Island.

The chairman pointed out that the whole district suggested only had an average roll number of 10,724. as against 20 000, the average for the nine districts.

Mr. IToybcn asked various questions relative to the basis on which the scholars.op figures were arrived at, and said that other districts might Specialise in other examinations. *

Mr. Trimble said that there had been a good deal of talk about getting the districts of the North Island of'equal size. This was. he believed, impossible, owing to the si;:e cf the city of Auckland. He contended that t:,e districts the Taranaki Hoard suggested were, leaving out Auckland city,' fairly equal and fairly workable. Kofcrring to the nromotion of teachers, he again emphasised the fact that this would largely be removed from the in.Huence of the hoard. Teachers would be classified and graded by the Department, He took it that boards would be obliged'to take teachers from near the top of the grade, despite what part of the Dominion they lived in. He also stated that Mr. Hrowne was a paid servant of tliclVanganni Hoard, a.id could not be held to he unbiassed. J)is statement that farmers' classes would be given up if the district came under the Taranaki Hoard was absurt The classes would go on. Taranaki. he admitted, was somewhat later in taking up farmers' classes than Wanganui, but they had schemes going on under somewhat similar lines, eolith Taranaki people had been so long joined to Wanganui, and that was the reason why they looked to Wanganui as their centre. Personally, he believed the time was coming when they would look more to New Plymouth. Once direct steamers came to New Plymouth, their interests would lie this way. The Chairman: Wanganui people say that thev will have a harbor, too. Mr. Trimble (hen thanked the colli; missioners for their attention to the evidence, and the commission rose.