JUNE 25.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1811

Regulations relating to Native Schools.

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BLEDISLOE, Governor-General.

ORDER IN COUNCIL.

At the Government House at Wellington, this 23rd day of June, 1931.

Present:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL IN COUNCIL.

IN pursuance and exercise of the powers and authorities vested in him by the Education Act, 1914, and amendments thereto, His Excellency the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, doth hereby revoke all existing regulations relating to Native schools, and in lieu thereof doth make the following regulations; and, with the like advice and consent, doth prescribe that this Order shall come into force on the day of publication thereof in the New Zealand Gazette.

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REGULATIONS.

1. In these regulations, if not inconsistent with the context,—

“Maori” or “Native” means any person belonging to the aboriginal race of New Zealand and includes a half-caste and a person intermediate in blood between half-castes and persons of pure descent from that race:

“Parent” includes the child’s guardian, and the householders in whose family the child resides and includes both husband and wife:

“School age” means any age between the ages of five and fifteen years.

2. If at least ten Maoris being the parents of children actually residing in any locality petition the Minister of Education for a Native school, and if they or any of them offer to give at least 4 acres of good land suitable for a school-site, except in places where the circumstances do not justify so large a demand, the Minister may establish a school in that locality: Provided (1) that there is no school within a convenient distance which Maori children can be reasonably expected to attend; (2) that an officer of the Department reports favourably on the site offered; (3) that the Natives give the Minister a proper title to the site; and (4) that they satisfy the Minister that the district will keep up an average attendance at the school of not less than twenty-five children of school age.

3. In a case in which full compliance with the conditions stated above is for the time impracticable the Minister may establish a provisional school, and in such case may require the parents to provide suitable temporary school buildings.

4. For every Native school there shall be a Committee consisting of five persons: Provided that in a school at which there are European children attending, if the elected members are all Maoris, the Minister may appoint one or more European parents in addition.

5. The Committee shall be elected annually at a public meeting of parents of the children attending the school. Such public meeting shall be held in the schoolhouse on such date as the Minister may direct. The time and place for holding such meeting shall be notified by the teacher in accordance with instructions issued by the Director of Education, and shall be made public by notice affixed to the outer door of the school building.

6. At each annual meeting the Chairman of the retiring Committee, or, in his absence, some member, shall first preside and conduct the election of a Chairman who will then take charge of the meeting.

7. Only parents of children attending the school shall be entitled to vote. In any case of doubt as to the eligibility of a voter the Chairman shall decide. At all meetings the Chairman shall have a deliberative and casting vote on all motions submitted to the meeting.

8. Any of the parents, whether present at the meeting or not, may be nominated for election as members of the Committee, provided that in the case of a candidate not present at the meeting his consent to the nomination must be given in writing to the Chairman.

9. A list of candidates so nominated shall be written on the blackboard.

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