The Council resumed its sitting.

All the members of the Council were present. The President, Mr W. S. Fitzgerald, presiding.

I.—'Teachers' Pensions.

The Committee appointed to inquire into teachers' pensions' relief fund reported that they failed to see any practical way of carrying into operation the principle involved in the resolutions with reference to pension and relief funds forwarded by the Auckland, 'Wellington, and Nelson Institutes.

Mr Worthington moved the adoption of the report, which was agreed to.

II.—The School Age.

The Committee appointed to inquire into the question of school age reported as follows:—

In view of the fact that the question of compulsory age and the age at which children may attend school, has been occupying the attention of the Press of the Colony, and has been recently referred to in Parliament as a subject requiring consideration and amendment, the Committee consider it desirable to submit the following statements on the subject:—

(1.)	That the age which children may attend school in New Zealand is from 5 to 15 years of age. It has been proposed to raise the age to 6 or 7.
(2)	An examination of the statistics of other countries as to school age shows that New Zealand has, generally speaking, a higher initial school age than any other country. The following figures illustrate this:—England, 3 to 18; Scotland, 3 to 18; Victoria, 3 to 16; New South Wales, 4 to 14; United States, 4 to 14; New Zealand, 5 to 15.
(3)	There are 20,000 pupils in the schools of the Colony under 7 years. To raise the age to 6 or 7 years would have the effect of saving £10,000 or £20,0(.'0 annually, but would result in closing schools in the outlying districts, or would lead to the establishing of aided schools, in which there is no guarantee that the teachers will be competent and efficient.page 10
(4)	Since there is no average age at which pupils must pass the First Standard, fixed by the Regulations of the Department, there is no inducement to force the pupils beyond their powers, and no occasion to resort to undue pressure.
(5)	To allow children to go 7 years without regular instruction would be highly detrimental to a sound course of instruction.

It will be seen from the foregoing statements that the Committee are decidedly against raising the school age.

Mr White moved the adoption of the report, Mr J. G. L. Scott seconded the motion. Report adopted.

III.—Pupil-Teacher System.

The Committee reported:—

That the syllabus of subjects of examination for pupil teachers should be uniform throughout the Colony, the examinations to be conducted by the Central Department; that it is desirable that the engagements of pupil teachers be for five years before their admission to a Normal School; that there are too many pupil teachers employed in some of the provincial districts.

A motion that the report be adopted was moved by Mr. Jas. Reid, and carried.

IV.—Scholarship System.

The Committee recommended:—

(1)	That the existing arrangements as to district scholarships should give place to an approximately uniform system for the whole Colony.
(2)	That by "approximately uniform" is meant uniformity as regards age, subjects of examination, relative value of subjects, and length of tenure.
(3)	That the system should be such as to bring the scholars into secondary schools at an age at which a secondary course can be commenced under favourable conditions and to enable them to continue their attendance at these schools until they have had time to qualify themselves for University scholarships.
(4)	That a satisfactory Bystem might be developed on the following outlines:—Scholarships to be of two kinds, junior and senior, and of each an equal number. Candidates for the former to be under 13 years of age; the subjects of examination to be confined to the work page 11 of the Fifth Standard, and the period covered to be two years. Candidates for the latter to be under 15 years of age; secondary subjects to hold a prominent place in the examinations, and the period covered to be three years. Special provision to be made for scholars obliged to reside away from home.
(5)	That all holders of senior scholarships should be required to matriculate at the end of the tenure of the scholarships.

On the motion of the Rev. T. Flayell the report was adopted.

V.—Appointment and Payment of Teachers.

Mr J. G. L. Scott moved the adoption of the report. Carried.

VI.—Drawing.

The report was adopted on the motion of the Rev, T. Flavell.

VII.—Financial.

The following resolutions were adopted:—

(1)	That in order to meet present requirements, the Treasurers of district Institutes represented be asked to advance the sum of £1 on account of each delegate, that sum being considered as part payment of the subscription for 1886.page 12
(2)	That the Secretaries of the district Institutes be requested to forward subscriptions to the Secretary on or before the 30th November, 1886.

VIII.—Retiring President.

Mr H. "Worthington moved that the following resolution be submitted to district Institutes for consideration:—

That each succeeding President of the Council and Institute shall be declared a member of this Council for so long a period as he shall continue to be a member of any Branch of this Institute.

Motion lost.

IX.—Scientific Education.

The resolution was carried.

X.—Secondary School Examinations.

Mr Bourne moved:—

That in the opinion of this Council an examining syndicate should be appointed to conduct the inspection and examination of secondary schools throughout the Colony.

Carried.

XI.—Standard Regulations.

Mr Milne moved:—

That in the opinion of this Council, Rule 6 of the Standard Regulations for 1885 ought to be amended as follows:—The words "during the three quarters preceding the quarter in which the examination takes place" should be omitted, and these should be inserted in their place, "since the last examination"; and that the words "the three quarters" (repeated) should be altered to "such period."

Mr Moore seconded the motion, which was carried.

XII.—Calculation of Percentages.

Mr Worthington moved:—

That in the opinion of this Council Rule 9 should be amended by inserting after the word "pupils" the words "in classes S 1 to S 6, inclusive."

Mr Moore seconded the motion, which was carried.

XIII.—The Minister of Education.

Mr Worthington moved:—

That the thanks of this Council be tendered to the Hon. Sir Robert Stout for his efforts to further the interests of the New Zealand Educational Institute.

The motion was carried unanimously.

XIV.—Training of Teachers.

Mr White seconded the motion, which was carried.

XV.—Pension Fund.

Mr Worthington moved:—

That as the Committee appointed to consider the subject of pension fund has reported that it is unable to recommend any practical method of carrying into operation the principles involved in the resolutions forwarded by the Auckland, Wellington, and Nelson Institutes, this Council relegates the subject to the District Institutes for further consideration, and that the Society be asked to report the results of such further consideration at the meeting to be held in January, 18S7.

Mr Park seconded the motion, which was carried.

XVI.—Standard Examinations.

Mr Milne moved:—

That in the opinion of this Council the following addition should be made to Rule 7 of the Standards:—"That in any one year, classes Standard V. and Standard VI. may be taught and examined together in the history prescribed for Standard V., but in that case in the next year Standard V. and Standard VI. must page 14 be taught and examined in the period 1714 to present date. Similarly in any year Standard V. may be taught and examined with Standard VI. in the geography prescribed for Standard V., but in that case, in the next year Standard V. and Standard VI. must be taught and examined in the geography prescribed for Standard VI."

Mr Reid seconded the motion, which was carried.

XVII.—The Lower Heathcote Assault Case.

Mr. Baldwin moved:—

That this Council, having considered all the circumstances in connection with the arrest of a pupil teacher at the Lower Heathcote school for alleged assault, heartily approves of the action of the North Canterbury Institute in bringing the case before the Minister of Education, and that this resolution also be forwarded to the Minister.

Mr Foster seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

The Council then adjourned until 10.30 a.m. next day.