B.—l

XXVII

There are signs, too, that employers are beginning to realise here, as they are realising in the Old Country, that it is to their advantage to encourage their employees to avail themselves of the opportunities now being provided for systematic instruction in the principles that underlie the various trades and industries, and that those who have received such instruction compare not unfavourably with those who have not. To the realisation of these important facts is probably due the increased interest that many local bodies and associations are now taking in the institutions devoted to technical instruction. Further evidence of this interest is to be found in the steadily increasing amounts paid by the Government by way of subsidies on voluntary contributions to technical classes. The number of technical, continuation, and school classes recognised during the year under the regulations for manual and technical instruction was 3,945, as against 2,599 for the previous year. Of the classes for 1905, 3041 were classes for instruction in various forms of handwork in connection with over 850 primary and secondary schools, while 904 were special, associated, or college classes for instruction in various subjects of science, art, and technology. Technical classes were held at about 55 different places. As regards school classes, the subjects of cookery for girls and woodwork for boys are receiving considerable attention. During the year 192 cookery classes and 177 woodwork classes were in operation, while at the technological examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute 31 public-school teachers passed the examination in cookery and 50 that in woodwork. There is still only one education district in which school classes for dairying have been carried on. It is to be hoped that the movement now in progress in various parts of the colony in the direction of providing facilities for instruction in subjects pertaining to agricultural and pastoral pursuits will accelerate the establishment in other districts of classes for instruction in a subject that has such an important bearing on the welfare of the community at large. In this connection it is pleasing to be able to record a considerable increase in the number of classes in connection with public schools for practical instruction in elementary agriculture. During the year 102 classes in 10 education districts were recognised as against 47 in 6 districts in the previous year. Several Education Boards have also taken steps to appoint special instructors in agriculture, whose, chief work at first, at all events, will be the training of teachers and the supervision of the practical instruction in the r chools. Education Boards have been enabled by means of Government grants to continue to arrange for special training classes for teachers in the various forms of handwork suitable for public schools. On the whole the arrangements made have been satisfactory, and the classes well and regularly attended. The curriculum of the training colleges in the four large centres also provides for training in handwork. Over 1,000 persons qualified for free instruction at technical schools under the regulations. This number, which is greater by 200 than that for 1904, will, it is anticipated, be nearly doubled in 1906. Under these regulations it is possible for pupils at the conclusion of their public-school course to receive free technical instruction for five years. They are enabled to proceed without a break from the primary school through a] fairly complete technical course with advantageVboth to themselves and to their instructors. The total expenditure by the Government on manual and technical instruction for 1905 was £34,775 10s. lid. The details are as follows : Capitation on all classes, £18,216 9s. 3d. ; grants for buildings and equipment, £9,115 ss. 10d. ; grants for material for class use, £514 19s. Id. ; subsidies on voluntary contributions, £1,443 Bs. 6d. ;]|technical training of teachers, £1,900 ; railway fares of instructors and studentsjJ£466 13s. lid; expenses in connection with the examinations of the Board of Education, South Kensington, and of the City and Guilds of London Institute, £461 6s. 7d. ; inspection, £984 6s. 9d.; scholarships and free places, £1,633 12s. Bd. ; sundries, £39 Bs. 4d. The sum of £125 14s. was recovered by way of examination fees and from sale of material used at examinations, leaving a net expenditure of £34,649 16s. lid.