1
Enclosure
97
impossible to deal with it under the Societies Ordinance.
7.
These circumstances together with the evident failure of the Board to meet the objects for which it was constitut -ed,
forced me to the conclusion that it was necessary to take early steps to supervise and control all schools in the Colony, and I accordingly had an interview with the members of the Board of Chinese Vernacular Education, to whom I explained my views on the subject which involve the dissolution of the Board. I enclose a note of the conversation which took place, and you will observe that all the members endorse my views and have no objection to the abolition of the Board. Sir Kai Ho Kai through some misunderstand-
-ing did not attend the meeting but the Colonial Secretary has
since informed him of the purport of the conversation neld there-
-at and he has stated that he entirely concurs in the Government's
proposals.
8.
In the event of your approving the passing of the Bill I am now submitting it will be necessary to strengthen
the Education Department by the appointment of an Inspector of
Schools and of one or more Supervisors in the llew Territories. For
the post of Inspector of Schools I would suggest a salary of £600
rising to £800 a year. I am influenced to make this recommendation
by the consideration that Inspectors of Elementary and Secondary
Schools in England enjoy salaries of £400 · £800. It is desired to
engage an Inspector of Secondary Education who has had some experience under the Board of Education in England and the initial salary has therefore been placed somewhat high in the hope of
attracting such an officer.
The Director of Education, who at first agreed with me that it would be desirable to obtain an experienced officer from England for this post, has since written a minute, copy enclosed, in which he advocates the appointment of kr. E.
Ralphs.
I nevertheless remain of the opinion that it will be to the advantage of the Education Department to obtain
the services of such an officer as I have described. I have
onclosured.