E.—2

[Appendix A.

lington; the third to Messrs. Hart and MoLeod, Christohuroh. Messrs. J. Campbell and G. A. Troup, F.R.1.8.A.5, Government Architects, kindly acted as judges. The infant department was approaching completion at the end of the year, (b.) At Eketahuna a new school for the District High School was erected on the new site partly from grant, partly from rebuilding money, and the old school having been fitted up for the purpose now serves excellently for woodwork and cookery, (c.) Additions to schools were erected at Porirua, Korokoro, South Featherston, Upper Hutt, Clareville (partial rebuilding). (d.) Residences were erected at Mikimiki, South Featherston, Tablelands, Taratahi West, Carrington. (c.) A science-room was erected at Petone West. (/.) Conveniences were renewed at fifteen and improved at six schools, (g.) Fencing, which is becoming a considerable charge at our older schools, was renewed at six. (h.) The periodic overhaul was undertaken at twenty-four schools and fourteen residences. (?'.) After considering a comprehensive report on the improvements necessary to bring the older residences, especially those occupied by married men, to a reasonable standard of comfort, the Board decided to endeavour to carry out the work within two years. The Board has endeavoured not only to maintain in a satisfactory condition the existing schools, but to embody in its newer designs those features which facilitate the instruction and promote the health of the child. It has, moreover, in some of its larger and older schools, improved the design where that was possible at a moderate cost. For the past few years the Board has expended annually a considerable sum in providing hyloplate for class-rooms, with great resultant benefit, especially to the art side of the school-work. Sites. —The acquirement of sites in new and rising districts has for years presented much difficulty. At the end of the year the sites account was in debit £5,334 Bs. lid. My Board is of opinion that the subdivision of areas so large as to justify the expectation that a school will be required should provide for the free dedication of a suitable site of sufficient area, say, of 5 acres in the case of country subdivisions, to serve the needs of the future school. As it is a wellrecognized fact that the establishment of a school results in an increase in value of adjacent lands far in excess of the capital value of the school-site, this is a quite reasonable proposal. As in the past, the reservation has not in all instances been suitable, and as there will in this district be many future subdivisions, my Board urges a selection in the first instance, sufficient in area, suitable as to aspect, dryness, situation, and evenness of surface. The point urged is that the school-site should be a first, not a last, consideration in the survey of a settlement. A fine site was obtained by grant in Britomart Street for a new school, which is now becoming urgently necessary in South Wellington. Additional accommodation is becoming a matter of urgency in other suburbs where rapid increase of population has taken place, such as Wadestown, Maranui, Brooklyn, and others. Entrance to the Teaching Service. —My Board approves your intention of passing this year an amending Act. It urges the removal, in a spirit at once just and generous, of every reasonable ground of dissatisfaction with the conditions of employment of teachers. A remark of the College Principal that the number of male students is not sufficient to maintain the present proportion of. male teachers directs attention to a possible problem of the frfture, and raises the question whether the inducements to enter the profession are sufficient. My Board considers that the reply must be in the negative so far as men at least are concerned. The teaching service is now suffering from the keen competition of the Public Service, and of various forms of commercial .and manufacturing enterprise for youths of real ability. The Public Service Commissioners recognize that capable youths must be attracted to the Public Service, and it may be assumed that the scale of remuneration is not more than will, in existing circumstances, meet their requirements. Here is the scale (see Second and Third Schedules, Public Service Commissioners' Regulations) :— , Year. , First. Second. Thiid. Fourth. Fifth. £ £ £ £ £ Clerical Division ... ... ... 50 65 80 96 110 Where lodging-allowance is claimed add 28 23 18 13 Professional Division ... ... ... 70 85 100 120 140 Where lodging-allowance is claimed add 18 13 8 Omitting the first-year pupil-teacher, whose minimum qualification is the proficiency certificate, the corresponding figures for the pupil-teacher and student-in-training are : — Pupil-teacher. Student in training. First. Second. Third. First. Second. £ £ £ £ £ 34 45 55 30 30 Where lodging-allowance is claimed add ... 15 10 5 30 30 The pupil-teacher receives also instruction by the school stuff, and the student-in-training [niversity College fees (average about £5). On the other hand, a bond of service is exacted from the ex-student. First. Second. £ £ The probationer receives ... ... ... ... ... 25 30 With lodging-allowance if away from home ... ... ... 30 30 and then enters the training college on conditions set forth above for the pupil-teacher. A careful study of the above figures leads to the conclusion either that in the Department of Education the service rendered is of smaller value than in the Public Service, or that, if not of less value, then the monetary inducements to enter the Education service should be considerably

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