EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. J. A. HANAN, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1906 Session II, I-13

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Session 11. 1906. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. J. A. HANAN, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF REFERENCE.

Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 28th Day of August, 1900. Ordered, " That a Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all matters relating to schoolteachers, education, and public instruction generally, public-school training of teachers, higher education, technical education, and manual instruction, and such other matters affecting education as may be referred to it; to have power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Baume, Mr. Buddo, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Lethbridge, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. Sidey, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Fowlds )

BEPORTS.

No. 138.—Petition of R. G. Knight, of Wellington. Petitioner prays that copies of the Ten Commandments, the moral law, be placed in prominent positions on the interior of the walls of every public school in the colony. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of R. C. Knight that, in view of the action taken last year in connection with a similar petition, they have now no recommendation to make. 18th September, 1906. Education Act Amendment Bill. The Education Committee, to whom was referred the Education Act Amendment Bill, have the honour to report that, having carefully considered the various provisions of the said Bill, they recommend that it be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown in a copy of the Bill hereto attached. 17th October, 1906. Resolution. The Education Committee have the honour to report to your honourable House that on the 4th day of September last they agreed to the following resolution, namely: — " That this Committee place upon record its high appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Mr. F. E. Baume, the late Chairman, as Chairman of the Education Committee " 18th October, 1906. Teachers' Superannuation Act Amendment Bill. The Education Committee, to whom was referred the Teachers' Superannuation Act Amendment Bill, have the honour to report to your honourable House that, having bestowed careful consideration on the various clauses of the said Bill, they recommend that it be allowed to proceed subject to the amendments shown on a copy of the Bill hereto attached. 23rd October, 1906.

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No. 2.—Petition of Jane Henderson. Petitioner represents that she is the widow of a schoolmaster who died before the coming into operation of the Teachers' Superannuation Act, and she prays that some measure of relief may be afforded to her. The Education Committee have the honour to report upon the petition of Jane Henderson that they have no recommendation to make. 23rd October, 1906.

Nos. 5 and 32.—Petitions of George Wilmot and George Crockett. Petitioners represent that they have served the colony for many years as school-teachers, and had retired from the service before the coming into operation of the Teachers' Superannuation Act. They pray that some allowance or consideration may be granted to them. The Education Committee have the honour to report upon the petitions of George Wilmot and George Crockett that they have no recommendation to make. 23rd October, 1906.

Nos. 12, 13, 101, and 566.—Petitions of Ellen Astley, A. M. M. Baron, Mary Lovatt, and Kate W. Wilkinson. Petitioners severally represent "that for stated long periods of time they have been engaged in the work of teaching in the public schools of the colony, but when the Teachers' Superannuation Act of last year came into operation it so happened that they were temporarily unattached to any school, and therefore they were unable to become associated with the scheme as " original members." They pray that legislation may be passed to remove their present disability and afford to them relief. The Education Committee have the honour to report upon the petitions of Ellen Astley, A. M. M. Baron, Mary Lovatt, and Kate W. Wilkinson that they have no recommendation to make. 23rd October, 1906.

No. 87. Petition of Pene Tahui and 28 Others. Petitioners pray that religious instruction be not introduced into the schools of the State. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Pene Tahui and others that they have no recommendation to make. 23rd October, 1906.

No. 88.—Petition of Pene Tahui and 28 Others. Petitioners represent that they are aware that monetary assistance is given by the State to the schools which are conducted under the auspices of the Church of England—that is to say, Te Aute, Hukarere, St. Stephen's, and Victoria Colleges —whilst the schools under the Catholic Church and other Churches do not receive any such monetary assistance. They pray that a Commission may be set up to inquire into the matter. The Education Committee have the honour to report upon the petition of Pene Tahui and others (No. 88) that they have no recommendation to make. 23rd October, 1906.

No. 273.—Petition of Charles Howard. Petitioner represents that he served the North Canterbury Board of Education for thirty years as a teacher, and was compelled to retire in the autumn of 1904 through infirmities of the body. He prays that consideration and relief may be extended to him. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Charles S. Howard thai they have no recommendation to make. 23rd October, 1906.

Nos. 644 and 651. —Petitions of S. H. Macky and 104 Others, and W. Bruce and 8 Others. Petitioners represent that to enable teachers to pay the heavy premiums required under the Teachers' Superannuation Act an increase of salaries was provided by the Education Act Amendment Act of last year; that at the same time the first assistant masters were practically excluded from the benefits of the last-named Act; that first assistant masters have been compelled to paypremiums amounting to 6 per cent, of their salaries. They therefore pray that a house allowance be made to all first assistant masters of grade 12. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petitions of S. H. Macky and others and W. Bruce and others that the matters involved in these petitions are still under consideration. 23rd October, 1906. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (1,400 copies), £ 1 7s.

Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o6.

Price 3d.]

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