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1905. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: CONFERENCE OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Tuesday, 12th September, 1905. The Conference met at the Colonial Museum, Wellington, at 2 o'clock p.m. The following delegates were present at the opening of the Conference: Auckland—Messrs. S. Luke, L. J. Bagnall, D. Petrie (Chief Inspector), V. E. Rice (Secretary), George George (Director of Technical Education); Hawke's Bay—Sir William Russell, Messrs. C. Hall, H. Hill (Inspector); Taranaki —Messrs. James Wade, W. E. Spencer (Chief Inspector); Wellington—Messrs. W. Allan, E. Feist, T. W. McDonald, T. R. Fleming (Chief Inspector), G. L. Stewart (Secretary); Wanganui—Messrs. F. Pirani, F. Y. Lethbridge, M.H.R., William Gray (Chief Inspector); Grey — Hon. James Marshall, M.L.C., H. Smith (Inspector); Westland —Messrs. J. Grimmond, T. W. Duff, A. J. Morton (Inspector); North Canterbury—Messrs. G. W. Russell, C. A. C. Hardy, M.H.R., D. Buddo, M.H.R., T. Ritchie (Inspector), H. C. Lane (Secretary); South Canterbury— Rev. George Barclay, Messrs. W. B. Howell, A. Bell (Secretary and Inspector); Otago—Messrs. Donald Borrie, Thomas Mackenzie, M.H.R., James Mitchell, P. Goyen (Chief Inspector), S. M. Park (Acting-Secretary); Southland —J. C. Thomson, M.H.R., John Neill (Secretary); Nelson— G. Talbot, On the motion of Mr. Borrie (Otago), seconded by Mr. Luke (Auckland), Mr. G. W. Russell (North Canterbury) was unanimously elected Chairman of the Conference. Mr. H. C. Lane was appointed Secretary. On the motion of Mr. Hardy, seconded by Mr. Mackenzie, it was resolved to send to the Right Hon. the Minister of Education, to the Inspector-General of Schools, and to the Secretary for Education an invitation to be present at the proceedings of the Conference. It was further resolved that a time-limit of ten minutes for the mover of a motion and five minutes for each subsequent speaker be fixed, and that the meetings be open to the Press. Mr. Borrie moved, That the Boards' Inspectors and Secretaries be placed on the same footing as the delegates, except as regards voting. It was moved as an amendment, That Inspectors and Secretaries discuss and have the right to vote. The amendment was carried on the casting-vote of the Chairman. Mr. Luke moved and Mr. Petrie seconded, That the Wellington Technical Board of Managers be invited to send delegates to the Conference. The motion was lost. It was moved by Mr. Grimmond and seconded by Mr. Bagnall, That the Chairman and members of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives be invited to attend the Conference, with the right of speaking, but not of voting. Agreed to. Mr. Howell moved, That the Inspector-General of Schools and Secretary for Education be allowed to discuss matters, but not to propose motions nor vote. Mr. Hardy moved, as an amendment, That they have the rights and privileges of delegates, which was negatived on the voices. Mr. Howell's motion was then put and declared carried. On the motion of Mr. McDonald, the business as placed on the Order Paper was then proceeded with. It was resolved that the times of meeting be as follows: From 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. A motion to the effect that the Conference also sit from 7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. was lost, as was also a motion that the Conference sit from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Mr. Allan moved and Mr. Borrie seconded, That the Department be asked to furnish the Conference with a shorthand reporter.