1.—13 a.

15

W. M. HAMILTON.

15. Does the Board act on the advice of the Inspectors with regard to repairs?— Not altogether, no. 16. There is no question of the local controlling influence of the School Committee in the appointment of a teacher or residence in a particular local district?—lf the Board sends a number of names the local Committee has the choice. 17. Are you aware of any influence in any of your small districts which are detrimental to the teacher in the case of appointment?— No. 18. There is no favouritism shown anywhere?—l challenge any one to show that favouritism has been shown. 19. By any School Committee in your district?— Not as far as I know. I think we have been singularly free from that. 20. You spoke of local funds being raised for the schools in your district: does the Board raise them?— The School Committees and inhabitants round about who are interested. 21. But the School Committee is the moving spirit, I presume? —Yes. If they receive encouragement from the Board they do more. 22. What encouragement does the Board give them I —The Board can show its sympathy in various ways. It can grant reasonable requests in regard to the proper upkeep of their districts. 23. I want to know how the Board can show their practical sympathy in the raising of local funds?—lt is rather difficult to say. It is a thing thai cannot be very well defined. If a School Committee knows the members of the Board personally, and knows the members are sympathetic towards the Committee, they will certainly do more than they otherwise would do. / 21. Is it not the Committee that is the moving spirit in raising local funds?— The Committee represent the people interested in the school, but a good deal depends on the sympathy between the Board and the fact that they know the Board is situated ill their own district. It is largely a matter of sentiment. 25. I understand you to say you favour small Education Board districts?— Not necessarily. What I sax- is that where a district is of fair size and not too small it is not desirable to have it done away with, and when it has shown that it has worked absolutely satisfactorily. 26. Would you favour the cutting-up of the Auckland District, which is a very large district ?—Speaking generally. I should think it probably would be desirable. If I bad to pass an opinion upon it I would think it would be desirable to have it cut up. 27. Are you speaking simply from the point of view of the Education Board or are you speaking in the interests of the teachers generally of the country?—l am speaking as a member of the Board and in the interests of the public and the teachers. 28. .1//. Sidey.] Have you considered the question from the point of view of the teachers.' —I have, yes, and I do not see that the teachers can be prejudiced by our district being left as it is. They are quite satisfied so far as I know. The teachers in our district have never expressed dissatisfaction. 29. Do you not think there would be a wider avenue of promotion open to the teachers if the district is large?— No. Ido not see anything in that point. I think that could be well met if th<- Inspectors are put under the Government with a system of grading. 30. Do I understand from your remark that you favour (he proposal in the Bill to centralize the Inspectors?—l am not opposed to that. 31. Is it necessary for the teachers to attend personally upon the Board?— Not at all: there is no necessity for it. They have to attend at the Board office on their business. Tt is a great convenience for them to have an office within a reasonable distance. They have occasion to attend frequently on various matters. 32. For what purpose do they attend?— The Secretary of the Board can tell you better than 1 can. They are constantly attending at the Board office. 33. Do you not think that the local interest is almost entirely due to the School Committee? —No, I do not think so. I think the local interest can be fostered very largely by the Board having men who are in touch themselves with the localities. 34. Mr. MrCallnm .l Dave you a School Committees' Association?— No. 35. Are your School- Committees strongly opposed to the amalgamation?—Oh, yes. As far as I understand, they are entirely opposed to it. Several have passed resolutions already, and there is to be a representative meeting. 36. You say your teachers are indifferent?—l think the teachers are strongly against the amalgamation also. T believe they will be dealing with that at the Institute meeting. 37. Of the nine members on your Board, do they all take an active interest in educational a (Tail's?— Yes, every one. 38. They understand the Education Act ami the regulations?— Yes. 39. You would say they are educationists?— Yes. Some have a better grasp of matters than others, but all have a very intelligent knowledge of the Act. There is not often occasion when there is not a full Board, and all take an artive part in the work of administration. 40. Could not all the work you do be done just as well in Christchurch ?— T do not think so. 41. Not with two or three delegates from the South Canterbury District?— No. I do not think so. Those delegates would be the only ones who would be in touch with any parts of the district. 42. I suggest that two delegates from your Board being up in Christchurch would be much belter in touch by meeting other delegates in Canterbury?—l can see that there is something in regard to what you say. Tt might enlarge their horizon by coming in contact with others, but I do not think the benefits would outweigh the disadvantages. 43. Would you not be satisfied with a Board office at Timaru with a Clerk under the central Board from Christchurch administering the affairs as at present, and transferring all your Board functions to Christchurch?—l cannot see that anything would be gained by that.