EDUCATION COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 303, 1 June 1915, Page 8

EDUCATION COMMISSION.

THE SITTING AT WELLINGTON. T&iANAKI POSITION! REFERRED TO. Wellington, Last Night. The. Education Commission sat at Wellington to-day. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, chairman ' of the Wellington Education Board, said his board considered that Cook Strait interposed a natural barrier to an administrative union with Nelson and Marlborough of such a nature that the strait should continue to form the southern boundary of the district. The I ward was well aware that, subject to administrative convenience, a larger area was more economically and efficiently managed by one than by several 'bodies, but the increase of area should certainly be determined by considerations of administrative efficiency, including fair opportunity for promotion, which, of course, was an important .factor of efficiency, as provision was made in the Education iAct of 1914 for the immediate creation of a Dominion grading of teachers. The argument in favor of an even distribution of t"e higher positions in the service amongst the different districts had, in fact, lost much in I'oiV'O since the I!H2 commission revported. "Regarding the rearrangement' o'f districts in the North Island," said Mr. Aitken, "my board is not keenly desirous of increased territory. If, however, as seems probable, a reduction in the number of North Island boards is made, my board Venturis to suggest that a reasonable redistribution of territory appears to be: — " (a) The union of Wanganui and Taranaki. " (b) An extension of TTawke's Bay I)v the transfer from Auckland of a part of the country south of the Ray of Plenty. - This would permit of an expansion of the Wellington district northward, say, over two counties to the west and '.wo to the east- of the range. This :ouhl be -administered from Wellington with ease." Mi'. T. R. 'Fleming, chief inspector, said that Ibe Dominion grading scheme of certilicatcd teachers to be brought into force under the Act would to a large extent, determine -boards in relation to the appointments of teachers. Administrative convenience and ellieieii'-y m"--t be considered when the boundaries were being formed. It did not ho'much matter where the teacher was employed, as his grading would give him due eon sijleration when applying for other positions. It was not necessary to have a fair proportion of good schools in a, district to ensure good appointments for a hoard's teachers.