E.—s

8

Over 55 per cent, of the pupils took commercial and general courses, industrial courses being taken by 22-8 per cent., and domestic courses by 14-3 per cent. There was an increase of thirty-eight in the number of pupils taking agriculture. Seven of the schools offered industrial, commercial, and domestic courses : four of these offered also an agricultural course, and one an art course; while one school (Westport) offered an industrial (engineering) course only.

Number of Pupils receiving Free Education at Technical High Schools under the Regulations for Free Places.

Of the total number of pupils in attendance 91 per cent, were receiving free education under the Regulations for Free Places. Junior free places were held by 1,695 pupils, an increase of 156, and senior free places by 220 pupils, a decrease of 10. Over 50 per cent, of the pupils who entered the technical high schools in 1915 as first-year junior free pupils continued to attend in 1916, while about 22 per cent, of the pupils who completed the second year of their junior free places in 1915, having qualified for senior free places, continued to attend in 1916. Of the pupils who left on completing their junior free places in 1915, 28 per cent, qualified for and were admitted to senior free places at evening classes in 1916. The rates of capitation vary from £12 10s. a year for first-year free pupils to £15 for third-year free pupils, and from £8 ss. to £10 in the case of other pupils. Capitation amounting to £23,295 was earned in respect of 2,029 pupils, of whom 1,845 were free pupils, as compared with £20,985 for the previous year. The rates of payment for pupils who qualified for capitation were £11-93 in the case of free pupils and £6-97 in the case of other pupils. To earn the full rate an attendance of not less than 800 hours a year is required. The scale of payments hitherto in force has been recently amended with the view of simplifying the computation of claims and at the same time of augmenting the funds at the disposal of controlling authorities. Coincidentally, a system of regular monthly payments has been inaugurated, the total effect being to place the finances of the technical high schools in a more favourable position than heretofore. Under the new scale the rate of payment in respect of free pupils who qualified for capitation in 1916 works out at £12-7 per pupil. Financial. The total capitation earnings of all classes, including technical high schools, was approximately £58,066 (giving a rate of £2-9 per student as compared with £2-6 for the previous year), of which £24,723 was earned by classes conducted by Education Boards, £29,284 by classes conducted by Technical School Boards and Managers, and £4,059 by classes conducted by University Colleges and High School Boards. The following is a summary of receipts from all sources and of expenditure for 1916 in respect of classes conducted by Education Boards or High

1915. 1916. Males. Females. Total. Males. Females. Total. i 577 320 109 28 2 1,095 600 17939 2 r- x ., I First year .. funior free pupils| Secon^year C First year .. ienior free pupils -i Second year (Third year 501 267 60 15 1 505 266 121 • 26 7 1,006 533 181 41 8 518 280 70 11 Totals .. 844 925 1,769 879 1,036 1,915