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APPENDIX A. ABRIDGED REPORTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS. AUCKLAND. Sib,- Education Office, Auckland, 31st March., 1920. In accordance with the requirements of the Education Act, the Education Board of the District of Auckland has the honour to submit the following report for last year :— Board. —The members in office are as follows : Auckland Urban Area Mrs. R. Tj. Baume, the Hon. 0. J. Garland, Mr. 0. W. Murray, and Dr. J. S. Reekie ; Devonport Urban Area Mr. H. S. W. King and Mr. J. 11. Penning ; North Ward Mr. J. I). McKenzie and Mr. R. C, Smith ; East, Ward Mr. E. C. Banks and Mr. A. Burns ; West Ward -Mr. J. Boddie and Mr. J. S. Bond. Meetings of the Board were held during the year, with an average attendance of nine. Schools. —The number of schools in operation at the end of last year was 669, including 120 part-time schools. During the year the following schools were opened : Haliei, Kaimarama, Puhi Puhi, Tatuanui, Whitehall, Rangiuru, Rangitihi, Huapai, Parahi, Te Paki, Mareretu North, St. Barnabas', Rotongaro, Plaxmill, Ngakonui, Mangatapu, Topuni, Whitiora, Taheke No. 2, Fairfield, St. Albans', Brooklynn, Kaimai No. 2. The following schools were closed : Cape Colville, Fernielea Mangarata, Ptitakc, Te Pahi No. 1. Attendance. —The number of scholars enrolled at the end of last year was 54,787 —viz., boys, 28,571 ; girls, 26,216- being an increasefof 1,137. The yearly average attendance was 49,151, being an increase of 2,947. Teachers. —Towards the end. of the year a large number of teachers who had joined the Expeditionary Forces returned to duty. It therefore became necessary in many cases for the Board to reinstate, them in their former positions, or to find positions for returned soldiers who were not occupying permanent positions when they left for active service. The Board is pleased to state that very few soldier teachers are not now occupying permanent positions. The Board, too, has done its utmost to find employment for the. largo number of relieving and temporary teachers who had taken the place of teachers who were absent on military duties. A return prepared at the end of September s 1 ows the qualifications of teachers as under :— Male. Female. Total. Certificated teachers .. .. .. ..471 744 1,215 Uncertificated teachers .. .. .. ..184 414 598 Pupil teachers . . . . . . . . .... . . ]90 Probationers .. .. .. .. .... .. 119 2,122 It will be observed that the number of uncertificated teachers is still unduly high, but the introduction of the principle of granting a grading increment in salary to certificated teachers and the enlargment of the Training College and its staff should, in a few years have the effect of decreasing the number of teachers who are content to remain without a certificate. Buildings.' During the year thirteen new schools were built and eleven were enlarged Only one residence was built Since the Great War ended the Board has brought under the notice of the Department the needs for school residences, particularly in country areas. The difficulty in obtaining houses for married teachers and accommodation for single teachers in country districts is becoming very acute, and constitutes a problem that must be dealt with on a large scale in the near future. Fortunately Parliament has placed at the disposal of the Education Department during the next few years a sum of three and a half million pounds to meet the urgent requirements of education districts in respect of school-sites, school buildings, residences, and enlargements of schools. The growth of Auckland City and outlying rural areas makes the requirements of this district, considerable. During the year the Advisory Inspector furnished the Board with a comprehensive report dealing with Auckland's requirements, and these are being steadily brought under the notice, of the Department as clear necessity arises. During the year several departmental officers visited Auckland and discussed with the Board's officers the urgent requirements of this district, and arrived at an arrangement which it is hoped will ultimately have the effect of overcoming the overcrowding difficulty that has been very pronounced during the last few years. The Board's Architect has carried on building operations in the face of great difficulties, not the least of which are high prices of materials, shortage of labour and of timber. Most of the works already authorized are, however, now under way. Finance.--The, income for the year ended 31st December, 1919, totalled £520,881 2s. 4d., and the expenditure £518,613 12s. 6d. The amount of fixed deposit on account of the fund for the rebuilding of worn-out schools is now £60,907 13s. lid. General Fund. —By the Education Amendment Act of 1919, the Board's income for general expenditure was seriously diminished. The capitation grant of ss. formerly allowed to Boards was curtailed to 3s. 9d., together with a basic grant of £1,000. The curtailment of its income will have the effect of preventing the Board from ass r sting Committees to the extent it formerly did. The curtailment was in operation only a short time during 1919, so that its full effect has not yet become apparent. When dealing with this matter the Board cannot refrain from drawing attention to the inadequacy of the grant allowed to School Committees under the First Schedule to the Education

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