E.—i

greatly exceed that of a wooden building, as is the case in certain parts of the Dominion, the more durable material is to be preferred. Though the high cost of building at the present time prohibits the initiation of a, general scheme of reconstruction, the matter, with respect to the more urgent cases at any rate, cannot be deferred indefinitely. Roll Number. (B-2, Tables Bl and l!2.) The number of children, in attendance at public schools, as shown by the mean of the average weekly roll for the four quarters of the year, maintained, in 1917, the increase that has been recorded during past years, the percentage increase being greater than in the previous year. The following figures show the average weekly roll number and the roll number at the end of 1917 :—

'Hie percentage increase in. the average roll during the last five years has been as follows: 1913, 3-1 per cent. ; 1914, 3-6 per cent. ; 1915, 3-2 per cent. ; 1916, Mi per cent. ; 1917, 2-.I per cent. There was a fall in the increase in 19.1.0, but the figure for 1917 is again upon the upward, grade. The increase in number is spread over children of all standards, with, the exception of the preparatory classes, where there has been a slight decrease. This appears to have resulted not so much from a, reduction in the number of new entrants as from the tendency to shorten the length of time spent by pupils in the preparatory classes. The increase in the roll number was greater in the North. Island (including Marlborough) than in the South Island, the percentage increases being 2-9 and 0-9 respectively. 'Hie table below shows the mean average roll number for every fifth year from 1878 to 1903, and for each of the last eleven years ; the table gives also the total average attendance for each year, the average attendance as a percentage of the roll (including secondary departments of district high, schools), and the number of teachers employed in the public schools.

Schools, Attendance, and Teachers.

The above figures relate to public schools. To estimate the total number of children receiving primary education in the Dominion, it will be necessary to include public schools (exclusive of secondary departments of district high schools),

19

Mean of Average Weekly Roll. Itoll Number a it end of Year. I Including Second- Excluding Second- Including Secondary Departments ar-y Departments ary Departments of Distriot High of District High : uf District High Kchools. Schools. Schools. Excluding Secondary Departments of District High Schools. i I 1 I I r oar 19.17 .. r ear 1916 187,954 185,549 190,354 184,056 181,670 185,884 3,898 3,879 4,470 2-1 2-1 2-4 188,174 183,769 Increase in 1917 4,405 Increase per cent, in .1917 I 2-4 I ! '

Number 0 Average Year. of wZut Attendance, Schools. polt Whole Year. Average Attendance as Percentage of Weekly Boll. M. Number of Teachers. Adults. Pupil-teachers. F. Total. M. F. Total. 1878 .. .. .. 748 .. *48,773 1883 .. .. .. 971 90,859 69.838 1888.. .. .. 1,158 113,636 +90,108 1893.. .. .. 1,375 125,092 1109,321 1898.. .. .. 1,655 133,782 111.636 1903.. .. .. 1,786 134,748 113,047 1907.. .. .. 1,963 141,946 120,226 1908.. .. .. 1,998 145,974 127,160 1909.. .. .. 2,057 151,142 132,773 1910.. .. .. 2,096 154,756 135,738 1911.. .. .. 2,160 159,299 142,186 1912.. .. .. 2,214 164,492 146,282 1913.. .. .. 2,255 169,530 151,242 1914.. .. '..! 2,301 175,570 158,134 1915.. .. ..! 2,338 181,229 103,092 1910 .. .. .. | 2,355 184,056 103,150 1917 .. .. .. 2,308 187,954 168,711 90,859 lia.636 125,092 133,782 134,748 141.946 145,974 151,1.42 154,756 159,299 164.492 169,530 175,570 181,229 184,056 IS7.954 *48,773 09.838 +90,108 1109,321 111.636 113,047 120,220 , 127,160 132,773 135,738 142,186 146,282 1.51,242 158,134 103,092 103,156 168,711 76-9 79-3 79-8 83-4 83-9 84-6 87-1 87-8 87-7 89-3 88-9 89-2 4)0-1 90-0 88-6 89-8 707 ! 454 905 656 1,039 887 1.107 1,096 1,234 1,370 1,270 | .1,726 1,332 1.955 1.331 2,021 1,406 ! 2,208 1.456 2,252 1,493 2,351 1,555 2,550 1,603 2,659 1,628 2,820 1,591 3,077 1,501 ' 3,209 I.;3S3 3,224 1,161 1,561 1,926 2,203 2,604 2,996 3,287 3.352 3,614 3,70S 3,844 4,105 4,262 4,448 4,(168 4,710 j 4,707 118 159 219 238 229 147 172 161 166 174 179 162 142 139 141 137 132 332 571 694 825 831 552 478 476 530 526 528 476 474 470 485 519 517 450 730 913 1.063 1.000 690 650 637 690 §700 §707 §038 §616 §609 §020 §650 §649 * Average of three Quarters. I Strict average. t Work iriot averagi t Worki ing average. fi Exclusive of in iale and ft miale p robatio: lers.