E.—l2.

(2.) The administration of the central Department; (3.) The powers and rights possessed respectively by Education Boards and other local educational authorities, and whether they should be extended. (4.) The expenditure on manual and technical instruction, and the question of local responsibility in regard to providing portion of funds therefor ; (5.) The amalgamation of local governing or controlling bodies ; (6.) Overlapping and duplication ; (7.) The finance of Education Boards, high school and manual and technical governing bodies ; (8.) Agricultural instruction and rural courses ; (9.) In what respects school instruction can be improved and made ol more practical value in equipping pupils for their future careers ; (10.) Scholarships and free places—what changes, if any, should be made in this direction ; (11.) And generally in what respects improvements can be made to secure higher efficiency, better administration, and co-ordination, and the securing of greater value for the annual expenditure on the branches of education above referred to. And with the like advice and consent I do further appoint you, the said Mark Cohen, to be Chairman of the said Commission. And for the better enabling you the said Commission to carry these presents into effect you are hereby authorized and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents at Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, and at such times as you deem expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and from place to place as enumerated as you think fit, and to call before you and examine on oath or otherwise as may be allowed by law such person or persons as you think capable of affording information in the premises, and you are also empowered to call for and examine all such books and records as you deem likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject-matter of the inquiry hereby directed to be made, and to inquire of and the premises by all lawful means whatsoever. And using all diligence, you are required to report to me under your hands and seals not later than the twenty-fifth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and twelve, your opinion as to the aforesaid matters. And it is hereby declared that these presents shall continue in full force and virtue although the inquiry is not regularly continued from time to time or from place to place by adjournment. And, lastly, it is hereby declared that these presents are issued under and subject to the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908. Given under the hand of His Excellency the Right Honourable John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, Baron Islington, Governor and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its dependencies; and issued under the Seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House, at Wellington, this twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twelve. Approved in Council. Thomas Mackenzie, Leod. E. Johnson, Prime Minister. Acting Clerk of the Executive Council.

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