8.—14.

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mercy of the finance of Education Boards. The Education Board, for instance, might find itself in financial difficulties, and consequently drop the teachers' salaries 10 or 15 per cent., and I may say that this feeling of insecurity is playing havoc with the teachers at the present time. 414. They feel they have not sufficient security, and that their position is not safe?— Exactly. 415. Have you been long in this district ?—I came here in 1889, but I was away for some time. I left the district in 1892, and then returned in 1896. 416. Are most of the head-teachers that were employed when you were here years ago still in the employ of the Board?—No, I should think not. 417. A great many of them have changed?— Yes. 418. How are their positions filled up? —In a majority of cases by female teachers. The schools have dropped in attendance, and the Board has appointed assistant mistresses. 419. Is the average age of the teachers about the same, or less?—A little less, if anything. 420. Do you thmk it possible for the teachers in the smaller districts to save sufficient out of their salaries to provide for their old age?— No. „. 421. You do not think any retiring scheme could be arranged under present circumstances?— No. 422. If the whole thing were left at the discretion of the Boards throughout the colony, and the Boards were required to do so by the department ?—No. 423. Would it be possible under the proposed colonial scale for the department to make a general insurance scheme?— Not in the small schools on a capitation of £5. 421. Generally speaking, could it?— Yes, they might do it. 425. Mr. Luke.] Are you aware that in some of the larger educational districts, and in Auckland in particular, female teachers act as assistants in the large schools, taking the Fourth and Fifth Standards, and do their work admirably, without any strain on them at all? —No, I am not aware of it. 426. Mr. Gilfedder.] You say that the teachers are leaving the profession : could you tell us any profession there is that the members do not leave ? —No ; of course, every man will leave a profession that he may be in if it is to better himself. 427. What class do you teach?— Standards VI. and VII. in the morning, and I take the High School in the afternoon. 428. And what is the work of the headmaster?—He takes the High School in the morning and general supervision in the afternoon. 429. Have you looked carefully through the suggested scale? —Yes, so far as I have had time. 430. As far as the staff is concerned, do you think it an improvement on what obtains at the present time in the Grey Education District? —Yes. 431. Do you think so with regard to the salaries?— Yes, with the exception of the small schools. 432. Do you not think the Board has been rather liberal in the establishment of these small schools ?—No, not particularly; they were established years ago. 433. Do you not consider, if the Government were giving an increased capitation grant in the event of the establishment of small schools, that it would tend to the establishment of a very considerable number of them?— Yes, I believe it would. 434. And there would be a possibility of no finality? —Yes, probably. 435. And the salaries of the teachers would decrease consequently?— Yes. 436. How many pupils do you think a sole teacher can efficiently teach ?—35. 437. Not more'?— Well, from 35 to 40. 438. That is a male teacher? —Yes. 439. Then, how many do you consider a female teacher can efficiently teach unaided ?—I should say 35. 400. Mr. Hill] Were you appointed to take special duty at the Greymouth School?— That was not mentioned in the advertisement. 441. How comes it to pass that you are obtaining a salary not recognised under the scale : you must have been appointed to take charge of classes in the secondary subjects ? —The advertisement did not state so. 442. What previous experience had you before you came here ?—I was a pupil-teacher at Geraldine, and then first assistant in the same school. I was head-teacher at Paroa for about two years and a half, and then afterwards I attended lectures at Canterbury College for two years. I was also first assistant at the Kumara School for two years, and I have been first assistant here in the Grey for five years. 443. Then, from your experience, do you think that a female teacher could control a small school up to, say, 30 equally with a male? —Yes. 444. She is required, of course, to do the same kind of work in order to obtain a certificate ?— Yes. 445. What is your opinion as to what she should receive as remuneration ?—Very nearly, if not quite, as much as a man. If I made any distinction at all I should make it small. 446. Why would you make any distinction at all, then ?—Oh, simply because it is a matter of supply and demand. 447. In a school like the one you are working in at the present time do you think the headmaster should have the distribution of the staff?— Yes. 448. I understand from you that you assume the first assistant master would have to take charge of Standards VI. and VII. ?—I said he most likely would. 449. Then, you would not object to any arrangement the headmaster might make, supposing you, as the first assistant, were put on to take charge of Standard IV. ? —No, I would not object.