19

E.—s.

corresponding shortening of the period of apprenticeship. As it is at present, even if a boy has spent three or four years in a technical high school, in say, the engineering branch, he has still to serve the full period of apprenticeship. Evening and Sfecial Day Glasses. —There was a still further falling-off in the attendance of students at the evening and special day classes last year, the number having decreased from 1,451 to 1,329. This, of course, was chiefly due to the increased military demand, the attendance at the College as far as male students was concerned being almost entirely confined to those below military age. The attendance of junior male students was also to some extent affected by the fact that in many trades, such as building, plumbing, painting, &c, on account of lack of work, employers have not taken any new apprentices. The war also had an effect upon the College by removing several members of the staff, as, in addition to Mr. F. E; Ward, temporary instructor in agriculture. Dr. O'Shannassy and Mr. C. McCarthy also enlisted. Of the members of the staff who had previously enlisted, the College experienced a severe loss through the death of Mr. C. E. Burgess, assistant engineering instructor, who died of wounds in France. A new departure was made by instituting a course of instruction for butchers. This course included arithmetic, book-keeping, English, and butchery technique. The practical part of the latter was held on one evening per week in Messrs. R. and W. Hellaby's shop, the firm not only placing the shop at the disposal of the students, but also all the carcases required for instruction in cutting up, &c. Of the eighteen students who enrolled, very few had received any education above the Fourth Standard. At the examination six students were successful, and were thus entitled under the arbitration award to an additon of 2s. 6d. per week to their wages. Other classes were held as usual. Continuation classes for pupils who had not yet passed the Sixth Standard were even more popular than ever. During the year 163 students were enrolled, and of the 120 who sat for the examination forty-nine gained proficiency and twenty-six competency. In the various external examinations sixty-six students were successful in those of the City and Guilds of London Institute, and thirteen in those of the Board of Education, South Kensington, London. Four students passed "A " examination of the Pharmacy Board, and three the "B " examination. Three students passed the Matriculation Examination of the University of New Zealand; three obtained partial passes, and two completed the examination, having previously obtained partial passes. In the special examination for certificates in book-keeping held by the University of New Zealand three successes were obtained. In the examinations held by the Education Department two students passed the full teachers' C certificate, one with special distinction; four students passed in four subjects, ten in three subjects, and nine in two subjects. For the teachers D certificate seventeen were successful, whilst eighty-eight obtained partial passes. In the Public Service Examinations ten passed the Senior Examination, whilst three passed in four subjects, three in three subjects, and seven in two subjects. Twelve students passed the Public Service Entrance Examination, six passed the Intermediate Examination, and eighty-eight senior free places. Teachers in training at the Auckland Training College attended the Technical College for the following subjects : Agriculture, art, domestic science, and manual training (woodwork). The more one has to do with evening-class work the more one realizes how unsatisfactory the state of affairs is whereby so large a number of growing boys and girls are compelled to obtain education to better fit them for their life's work by attending evening classes after they have been fully occupied during the daytime. In many cases the knowledge so acquired is obtained at the expense of their health. It is surely high time that this should cease, and compulsory attendance at continuation classes in the daytime be instituted in its place. It should also be part of every Arbitration Court award to compel employers to send their apprentices during the daytime for at least two half-days per week to receive instruction at technical classes. As I have previously pointed out, we are most seriously handicapped through the Technical College not having been completed. In conclusion, I wish to tender to my staff my appreciation for their efforts, which have been responsible for such excellent work during the last year. George George, Director. Extract from the Report of the Supervisor of Manual and Technical Instruction. Technical and continuation classes were held regularly at ten centres, and the numbers of individual students in attendance were as follows: Dargaville, 76; Te Kopuru, 49; Whangarei, 118; Otahuhu, 74; Devonport, 85; Pukekohe, 59; Hamilton, 140; Te Aroha, 55; Waihi, 120; Thames, 129. Classes in English, arithmetic, book-keeping, woodwork, and dressmaking were held at all the centres, and in most of them there were classes for shorthand and typewriting. At Thames a plumbing class and at Hamilton plumbing, engineering, and ticket- and sign-writing classes were held. Regulations requiring the attendance of all young persons between the ages of fourteen and seventeen excepting those attending any school and those who have attained a certain standard of education, are in force at Te Kopuru, Dargaville, Devonport, and Pukekohe; regulations requiring the attendance of boys only are in force at Whangarei, Otahuhu, Hamilton, Te Aroha, Waihi, and Thames. Experience has shown the wisdom of making the above regulations, which enable all young persons to get free education at technical and continuation classes. Unless these regulations are made those voting persons who have not obtained certificates of proficiency are debarred from getting free education. The behaviour of the compulsory pupils has on the whole been