147

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28. What do you think would be an adequate payment for the conveyance of children to school? —In every instance where I had to go into such questions when I was an Inspector the offers "for the carriage of children, even in reasonably favourable circumstances, were from 75 per cent, to 100 per cent, greater than the amount the Department was willing to pay. I think that was almost invariably the case. 29. Would it be a better plan if the Education Board were allowed to arrange the system of conveyance, subject to the approval of the Department, without limit as to the amount of capitation? —If it w 7 ere subject to the approval of the Department Ido not think it would make very much difference. 30. There is an arbitrary rule now as to an allowance of 6d. ?—lt would be an advantage if that arbitrary- amount were cancelled, and each case were considered on its merits. 31. With regard to the returns for scholarships, do you not think the returns required at present are too diffuse, and could be simplified?—l do not think the details required are at all necessary. If the number of pupils holding scholarships were sent to the Department, that should be quite sufficient. 32. With regard to the supply of free school-books to small schools : could there not be an improvement in the direction of providing certain books for grouped classes?—l think that would be an improvement. 33. Would it not do away to a great extent with what is at present waste?— Yes. 34. What is your system with regard to the supply- of school stationery ?—We make an allowance of about 6s. 3d. per scholar to the Committee, and the teachers buy what is necessary. 35. Is not that an extravagant method of securing supplies?—l do not know of any better method. 36. Could not the cost be considerably 7 reduced if the Board purchased the supplies wholesale and distributed to the schools? —In a district like this it would be necessary to have a special office and a special clerk. 37. Could you not do it cheaper than through the ordinary- medium of wholesaler, retailer, and sub-retailer? —I do not know how you would keep a system of check on it. 38. Suppose you ascertain the cost of what stationery would be supplied, and the capitation, allowance to the Committees were reduced accordingly, would there not be a saving to both the Committees and the system of education? —I do not think so. We considered that question. 39. Could not a dozen gross of pens be obtained at a cheaper rate than a single dozen? —Yes, but you would lose so many- in distributing them that that advantage would be lost, 40. Have you made any comparison between the salaries of the district high school secondary assistants and those paid to the secondary assistants in the secondary schools? —I knowthat the salaries paid to the assistants in the Auckland Girls' Grammar School are not very high. 41. They do not compare favourably with the salaries of the secondary assistants in district high schools?— Fairly well. In the junior portion of the Girls' High School there are M.A.s, B.A.s, and Bachelors of Science getting salaries of about £120 a year, but that school is not under the control of our Board. 42. How do the salaries paid- to the district high school assistants compare with those of the primary- assistants in the same school?— Not at all well. 43. Would it not be a fair thing that the secondary assistants in the district high school should be paid as much as the first assistant in the primary department?— They should receive salaries equivalent to those of the primary assistant. 44. Mr. Wells.] Do you not think that additional help in the case of growing schools is not given quickly enough?— That is the general experience in the Auckland District. We have occasionally to provide an assistant in a growing school for one quarter out of the relieving fund. 45. Do you think it would help matters if the regulations were so amended that if at the end of a quarter in the case of a growing school the Inspector certified that in his opinion the school was in a stable condition and help should be given at once?—l think the help should be given. The monthly return of average attendance is quite sufficient to give information as to the assistance required without waiting for the Inspector's certificate. 46. Would you approve of the suggestion to import young trained teachers from Home? — Certainly. 47. Do you think that the Native schools might with advantage be brought under the control of the Education Board?—l do not know that there would be any advantage. 48. Could not the work be undertaken with inspectoral assistance? —The Inspectors could undoubtedly do the work, but I think a man wffio is inspecting a Native school requires some special knowledge. I think he should understand Maori in. order to get at the real state of affairs. 49. It is stated that the cost of building is heavier in Auckland than elsewhere in the Dominion —that the tenders received are often largely in excess of the amounts allowed by the Department? —-That is frequently our experience. The other day we got tenders under the grant for a £3,000 school. The actual tender was £3,330. 50. The Chairman,] Is that a rare or the usual experience ? —Recently it has been an unusual experience. 51. Mr. Wells.] Can you offer any explanation of the high prices prevailing in the district? —No. 52. With regard to the conveyance of pupils to a central school: is it not a fact that that system is not carried on to any extent in this district?—l do not think there is any instance in this district. When the idea was first mooted the Department made its success impossible by insisting that no existing school should be interfered with. There were several instances where the Board might have amalgamated schools. 53. Mr. Pirani.] Is it not that the Department will not convey the children if they can conveniently get to an existing school?—ln the original circular it was made absolute. The attitude of the Department has been against centralization.