TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 22 September 1913, Page 5

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

MEETING IN MASTERTON. ' A genueral. meeting of the W* l ™- rapa branch of the N.Z.S.I, was held in the Technical School on Satuiday morning, Mr F. *L. Combs, president, in the chair. , . The teachers gave a sympathetic hearing to Miss Roberts, of Christchurch, who is desirous oi introducing her dress-cutting chart into the .technical schools of the Dominion. The lady explained that she had failed to impress the Inspector-General, and was now about to present a petition to thff Minister of Education on the matter. Among the correspondence was a letter from the Education Board, outlining the Physical Training Department's proposals regarding the training of all the teachers of the Wellington education district. It was proposed to hold a fortnight s camp for both sexes at a suitable spot close to Wellington, and the opinion of the institute was invited as to the more suitable of the two dates: (a) 27th. March to 9th April, 1914 immediately before Easter; (b) 22nd June to 3rd July, 1914. The institute decided to recommend the firstnamed. The director had also imformed the board that he was prepared to hold a voluntary camp extending over two weeks from the 17th to the 31st January, 1914 (a) For women in a suitable hall in Wellington (b) for men in camp in a suitable locality. The number in each case would be limited to thirty, •Teachers undergoing tile voluntary course would be granted exemption from attendance 'from the compulsory camp when all schools would be closed. The institute resolved to ask the board to approve of the voluntary camp also. MrXS. OR;. Sykes, M.P., wrote, that inJiis opinion "the legislation regarding teacher's increases in salary to be introduced next session would be made retrospective to date from Jan. Ist, 1914, or April Ist, and that he would use his best endeavours to that end. Letter of thanks to be sent.

The following resolution was carried unanimously, copies to be sent to Sir W. C. Buchanan, M.P., and Mr G: K. Sykes, M.P.: "That this branch of tho N.Z.E.I. is disappointed to find that no reference was made by the Minister of Education in his recent statement in Parliament to his promise that the salaries of the secondary assistants in D.H. Schools would he specially considered this session, nor to the promise that all teachers Buffering reductions of salary this year oft account of falling attendance would be reimbursed." With a view to their consideration at the annual conference of teachers to be hold in Auckland, ten remits were passed by the meeting. Six of these appeared on the order paper at the New Plymouth Conference last January. The following are the four:

1. That the annual conference of the N.Z.E.I. be held in .future in, Wellington during the session of Parliament. '2. That the house allowance of teachers be not subject to redaction owing to a fall in attendance. 3. That an ex-primary schoolmaster be appointed secretary and organiser of the N.Z.E.I. at a salary of, say, £350 a year; that he be also editor of the official Journal. 4. That all delegates to the annual conference be required each year to lay before the members of Parliament of their respective districts the result of the deliberations of the conference; and that they act in concert with the executive of the N.Z.E.I. Consideration of the Bible-in-Schools question and of the matter of raising the subscriptions of male members was postponed till the next general meeting.