AGRICULTURAL CLASSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1917, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL CLASSES.

QUESTION OP EXPENSES. In connection with the recent agrl. cultural classes held in New Plymouth, Mr. It. Mcllroy, secretary of the Taranaki Teachers' Institute, forwarded to yesterday's meeting of tho Education Board resolutions passed at a meeting attended by 233 teachers, asking thu Education Board to make an allowance to races tho expenses of pupil teachers and probationers attending the classes in agriculture. It was particularly hard to expect these young ladies to pay these expenses out of their already inadequate salaries, and also asking the Board to apply to the Department for a grant to .pay tho whole or part of the expenses of all teachers attending the agricultural classes.

The technical committee recommended: That the Tcnfchers' Institute 1w asked to supply the names of the pupil teachers and probationers who attended the agricultural class and a list of the expenses incurred by them when lodging in New Plymouth, and they ba informed that tho Board regrets 'that it cannot apply to the Department for a refund of the expenses of those teachers who attended the agricultural classes.

Mr. Wilkinson said that the classes had been a very expensive business. There was no doubt that it had been a, hardship to some. • Tho chairman said that the classes had done a lot of good. Mr., Trimble thought that if individual cases of hardship were brought before the Board, ,«omo action might ba taken.

Tlic chairman said it was a hardship for teachers, travelling for 10 hours. Mr. Smith remarked that in every otlior branch of puMic service thero was an allowance made to officials whose duties (takVthcni away (from their homes.

Mr. Dixon thought the Board had been very liberal in the matter. They, must not lose sight of tho fact that' the. classes wore for tho purpose of giv* ing the teachers expert instruction, Ort agriculture and making them more valuable to tho Dominion. The teachi ers should ho prepared to make some sacriflfce also. The chairman pointed out that it was undoubtedly a hardship to pupil teachers and probationers. Sir. White asked whether the classes could not be held under the Department. Mr. H. Trimble pointed out that the Board could not pay the lot, as thera were 235 teachers. Miv Dixon: If the Board did there would not bo another such conference, 'lt was resojved to adopt the techi nical committee's report.