X.—l

XXIV

In many of the public schools all the standards received instruction in some one or other of the branches of handwork. In several districts arrangements have been made whereby the older pupils in the city and suburban schools receive instruction in woodwork and cookery. During the year, 156 cookery classes and 129 woodwork classes were in operation, while, at the technological examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute, 102 public-school teachers passed the examinations in cookery and eighty-seven in woodwork. In only one education district were school classes for instruction in dairying established. Increased attention is being given to practical instruction in elementary agriculture in primary schools. During the year forty-seven classes in six education districts were working under the Act, as against thirty-six for 1903. It is to be regretted that there is not more evidence of a definite movement on the part of controlling authorities to arrange for the regular instruction in country districts of school-children, as well as of those who have left school, in subjects having a direct bearing on rural pursuits. With the co-operation and help of local bodies interested in agricultural and pastoral matters controlling authorities should be able to see their way to arrange for suitable courses at convenient centres. If the classes were brought under the Act, subsidy would be payable on the contributions of local bodies and others, and the classes would be eligible for capitation and for grants in aid of the necessary apparatus and material. The funds available from these and other sources, such as the fees of students, should suffice for the efficient carrying-on of the classes. As far as the training of the teachers of country schools is concerned, there would seem to be no reason why Education Boards should not devote a proportion of the grants they receive each year for the training of teachers in subjects of manual and technical instruction to the maintenance of training-classes in rural science. In the case of the smaller education districts co-operation on the part of the Boards should enable such classes to be placed on a satisfactory footing. There has been a considerable increase in the number of persons receiving free instruction under the regulations for technical scholarships. During the year 852 scholars received free instruction at ten technical schools. • In not a few cases definite courses of work have been entered upon, and there are indications that there will be a substantial increase next year, not only in the number of free scholars, but also in the number of technical schools giving free instruction along definite lines. The total expenditure on manual and technical instruction for 1904 was £27,425 Is. The details are as follows: Capitation on all classes, £11,801 12s. 6d. ; grants for buildings and equipment, £9,255 17s. 2d.; grants for material for class use, £798 6s. 9d.; subsidies on voluntary contributions, £1,175 10s. lOd.; technical training of teachers, £1,853 ; railway fares of instructors and students, £364 2s. 9d. ; expenses in connection with the examination of the Board of Education, South Kensington, and of the City and Guilds of London Institute, £518 12s. 4d.; inspection, £978 15s. 3d. £634 14s. 2d. ; sundries, £44 9s. 3d. The sum of £107 2s. 6d. was recovered by-way of examination fees and from sale of material used at examinations, leaving .a net expenditure of £27,317 18s. 6d. Secondary Education. The number of endowed secondary schools giving free tuition to all qualified pupils at the end of 1904 was twenty, and the number of pupils holding free places wis 1,595. There were besides about 387 holders of scholarships and exhibitions given by these schools, or by Boards of Education, or by the four endowed secondary schools not coming under the conditions. Further, there were 2,291 qualified pupils receiving secondary education in the secondary classes of the district high schools, which numbered fifty-two. On the whole, therefore, the effect of recent legislation and the regulations thereunder has been to afford free secondary education for some 4,273 children from the primary schools, whereas at the end of the year 1901 the number was about 963. The total amount paid to Education Boards by Government for capitation on attendance at district high schools and for grants in aid thereof amounted to £10,130 19s. 2d., and, in addition, the claims for the last quarter had to be met. The amount expended by Boards was £12,257 lis. 2d,