MINISTER FOR EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1915, Page 4

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION.

— VISIT TO SOUTH TABANAKI. SOME TOPICS DISCUSSED*. The Minister for Education, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, last evening concluded his short visit to South Taranaki, and accompanied by Mr. F. Pirani (chairman of the Wangunni Education Board), and his private secretary (Mr. I<". M. Slierwood), the Minister motored to Feilding last night. Mr Hanan will return to Wellington to-day. Next week, the Minister will visit New Plymouth. He will arrive here by the mail train on Wednesday nightf but he lias not yet decided how long he will remain. , Discussing educational matters with a Daily News representative yesterday, the Minister refused to express any opinion about the education boundaries question. The matter was now before the Council of Education, and lie had called a meeting of the Council for the 16th inst., when the question would be definitely settled, and the nine new districts would be announced. Mr. Hanan said there were several other important matters to be discussed by the Council.

Another matter which is now engaging tho Minister's attention is the appointment of an Assistant Director of Education to fill Dr. Anderson's place, Dr. Anderson Inning been appointed Director of Education. No decision had yet been come to, but it was probable the position would he filled shortly.

SCARCITY OF TEACHERS. The attention of the Minister was drawn to the scarcity of male teachers, owing to the number enlisting. 'Mr. U'anan said the matter was now one for the Education Boards to deal with, tint if tlie scarcity became more widespread it would have to he considered bv the Government. One Education Board had informed him that vacancies were belli" filled by unqualified teachers at the ordinary salaries paid to qualified teachers. Salaries were fixed by the Education Act, and the Boards had no power to reduce them, lint it was not right that men without qualifications should receive similar salaries to those paid to qualified men. The Minister does not propose to take action at present towards amending this, bjt If tne position becomes ■ more acute the question will lie considered.

CHANGES IN' EDUCATION'. The Minister stated that lie h now taking stops to reorganise the Education Department, particularly the business and financial sides, in order to get more efficient administration. Owing to the number of ollicers who had gone to the war, the Department was at present working short-handed.

"I will try to reduce the gap between the primary schools and the high schools. and I am also going to review the question of free places," continued Mr. Hanan. "It has been urged that a number of children who got free places in the secondary schools only stay there about twelve months, and therefore receive practically no benefits from their a.ttendance, because a child cannot gain any permanent learning in such a short period. It seems to me that, there is something in this contention. Two or three years following the close of the primary schools period have got to he more fruitfully spent by children in developing their mcnt,al anil physical powers, which will be called into' play in the various provinces of skilled labor, on which our industrial and commercial expansion bo materially depend. Some boys will go in for farming, into the workshop, the warehouse, or some trade, and hence their attendance at technical schools will provide the training which they need. In one of the States of Australia it is compulsory to attend a secondary school far at least two years, and I favor something in this direction being done in New Zealand."