E.—le

8

I hope this Conference will make some important contribution to the progress of education in this colony. I feel quite sure you will take up these questions, as far as you have time for them, with a desire to produce something practical. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Strachan, seconded by Mr. Mulgan, " That the meetings of the Conference be open to the Press." Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Bakewell seconded, " That Mr. Richardson be Assistant Secretary " ; and, on the suggestion of the Chairman, Messrs. Tennant and Richardson were appointed jointsecretaries. Messrs. Mulgan, Goyen, and Hill, with the joint-secretaries, were appointed a Standing Orders Committee; and subsequently Dr. Anderson was added. It was agreed that all motions be handed in writing to the Secretary, and that divisions be taken by a show of hands. The Conference decided to sit from 10 a.m. to 12.45 p.m., and from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily. Mr. Richardson proposed, and Mr. Spencer seconded, " That proposers of motions be limited to 10 minutes, and succeeding speakers to 5 minutes." —Carried. The Chairman read a letter from the Secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute conveying the greetings of that body to the Conference. Message from the Minister op Education. The Chairman read the following telegram : — " G. Hogben, Esq., Inspector-General of Schools, Wellington. " Please convey my greetings to the Conference of Inspectors and Principals of Training Colleges, whose labours I hope will be for the benefit of education in New Zealand. Regret I cannot attend first meeting to convey this message personally. " Geo. Fowlds." Free Places and Scholarships at Secondary and District High Schools. The Conference went into committee to consider the conditions of admission to free places in secondary and district high schools. Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Fitzgerald seconded, " That in clause 2, paragraph (6), all the words down to the words ' free place ' be omitted." —Lost: Ayes, 16; Noes, 22. Paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) adopted as printed. Mr. Strachan moved, and Mr. Morton seconded, pro forma., " That in clause 2, paragraph (d), the word ' proficiency ' be deleted, with a view to inserting the words ' competency for Standard Vl.' " —Motion lost on the voices. Mr. Goyen moved, and Mr. Richardson seconded, " That all the words preceding 'he has obtained' be deleted from clause 2, paragraph (d)." —Lost on the voices. Mr. Strachan moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, " That the proviso be omitted from clause 3, paragraph (iv)." —Motion lost. Conference adjourned at 4.30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 6th FEBRUARY, 1907. Conference resumed at 10 a.m. It was intimated that notices of motion must be handed in at 12.45 p.m. daily. Setting-up of Committees. The following were appointed members of a committee to consider the Regulations for the Inspection and Examination of Schools: Messrs. Petrie (convener), Goyen, Fleming, Gow, Harkness, Foster, Braik, Hendry, Mulgan, White, and Hill. The following were appointed a committee to consider matters referred to it concerning the appointment, training, and education of pupil-teachers: Messrs. Fitzgerald (convener), Morton, Bakewell, Wyllie, Milnes, Gray, Watkins, and Spencer. The following were appointed a committee to deal with matters referred to it concerning secondary education: Messrs. Ritchie (convener), Bell, Strachan, Bossence, Purdie, Gill, Crawford, Strong, Isaac, and Browne. It was decided that the remaining members of Conference form a committee to consider general matters referred to it by the Conference or the Chairman, Mr. Stewart to be convener. Free Places and Scholarships at Secondary and District High Schools. Conference then went into committee to continue the consideration of conditions of admission to free places in secondary and district high schools. Mr. Stewart moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, " That clause 5 be referred to the committee on secondary education." —Motion agreed to. Clause 6: Mr. Braik moved, and Mr. Purdie seconded, "That the following words be added to subclause (i): 'or be a holder of a certificate of competency for Standard Vl.'" —Motion negatived: Ayes, 11 ; Noes, 30. Subclause as printed agreed to. Mr. Strong moved, and Mr. Braik seconded, " That the words ' provided that every junior free place shall be tenable for at least two years,' be added as a proviso to subclause (ii) of clause 6." —Motion negatived, and subclause as printed agreed to. Subclause (iii) agreed to. Clause 7: Mr. Fitzgerald moved, and Mr. White seconded, "That this clause be referred to the secondary education committee." —Agreed to.