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1902. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: COMMERCIAL EDUCATION.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Secretary for Education to the Hon. the Minister. (Memorandum.) Education Department, Wellington, 21st August, 1902. I venture to bring under your notice the accompanying pamphlet in regard to the proposed Faculty of Commerce in the University of Birmingham, together with the curriculum and regulations for the degree of Bachelor of Commerce. I would point out that the regulations under " The Manual and Technical Instruction Act, 1900," issued last year and revised this year, contain provisions for the establishment of " special " or "associated classes," or of college classes in certain commercial subjects, as will be seen from the following extracts :■ — A. Continuation Classes. A " continuation class " means a class commencing not earlier than 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and in which instruction is given in the ordinary public-school subjects, or in other subjects of general or commercial education, such as the following:— 1. The subjects of the public-school syllabus for Standards V. and VI. 2. English ; to include composition and the study of a work or works of a standard author or authors. 3. French, German, Italian, Latin, Greek ; the teaching to include in every case a reasonable amount of continuous reading matter, and, in the case of a living language, to be directed to the practical end of giving the pupils the power of speaking the language. 4. Mathematics (algebra and higher arithmetic, geometry, trigonometry, &c). 5. Mensuration (as for builders, surveyors, &o.), which must include practical measurements by the pupils. 6. Book-keeping, prects-writing and correspondence, shorthand, typewriting, commercial and actuarial arithmetic, commercial law, or any other branch of political economy, economics of industry, commercial history, industrial history, commercial geography, when claims cannot be made for these subjects under the head of " technical instruction." 7. Any natural physical or chemical science, treated practically, although not fulfilling the .conditions laid down for such science as a branch of technical instruction. Not less than one-third of the time must, however, be devoted to practical work. 8. English history ; general history ; constitutional history. 9. Elocution. 10. Vocal music, which must include singing from notes and the elements of the theory of music. II Linear drawing by aid of instruments ; freehand outline-drawing of rigid forms from flat examples; freehand outline-drawing from the " round." *********** Regulation 45. Instruction in subjects connected with commercial pursuits, in order to be deemed " technical instruction " [which is otherwise recognised in continuation classes] must include three or more of the following subjects, one at least of which must be taken from division (a). (a.) (1.) Book-keeping (including commercial technology) ; (2.) Shorthand; (3.) Commercial law; 4.) Industrial law; 5.) Economics of industry ; 6.) Chemistry, treated practically, with immediate reference to commerce or manufactures ; (b.) (1.) Typewriting; (2.) Correspondence and precis-writing; (3.) Commercial or actuarial arithmetic; (4 ) Commercial history ; (5. Industrial history; (6. Commercial geography; (7. Other similar subjects. I—E. 14.