E.—2.

Appendix D.]

been plenty of social enjoyment, and a complete absence of any jarring or ill-feeling. The students have governed their own affairs through their association, the various athletic clubs have been well supported, and the College magazine has been published by their own efforts and money. With regard to the general welfare of the College, I suppose there is no use reiterating the old complaints that there is insufficient accommodation, insufficient country school practice, and that the absence of hostel accommodation for the women at least is a great defect: but I mention them again so that it will, not be, thought that they are remedied. I recognize that things arc progressing, and that some day soon improvement will take place. The matter of accommodation is a serious one. There will be, fifty more women next year than this year. Board is Increasingly expensive, and hard to get, and many who supply board are unwilling to take in women. The position is a serious one and must, be faced. There is always a tendency on the part of students to prefer cheaper lodgings, and the result is that too many are put in a room. They have to put up with vulgar or inconsiderate landladies, and often have to shift lodgings at short notice. The only remedy is a college hostel where consideration and good conditions will be guaranteed. When it is done it must be done generously. A cheeseparing policy in providing it would not make things very much better. The question of increased College accommodation for two hundred students in a building that was planned for eighty is to be faced, and 1 understand that the Board and the Department are now considering it. A matter that inevitably comes up is the question of the College course. The regulations make the course an extremely full one for any student who undertakes work of a standard higher than the C certificate. I have pointed out before that the College course is the only opportunity most teachers have, of obtaining higher certificate qualifications, since such work must for most students be done at the University. It is advisable also that our teachers have, as far as possible, that standing in the educational world which a University course confers. Then, again, for men promotion to the higher positions increasingly and inevitably demands University qualifications. But practically all who go in for the teaching profession are unable to afford University work after their College course is finished —they are forced to press on with it in their two-years course. I think the Department should offer a third or even a fourth year to those students who have proved themselves worthy. This would have two good results—it would ease the pressure caused by both University and College work elbowing each other, and it would provide, a supply of teachers with superior qualifications from whom to draw in future. It would also react favourably on the general level of professional attainment. If there was a proper higher Agricultural|College in the Dominion this scheme could also be used to provide: a supply of trained agricultural instructors. On the question of training of teachers generally, it seems to me that, with the extension of Training College work, the position of instruction in secondary schools and home-science work should be considered. At present, in spite, of the fact that provision is made in the regulations for the admission of graduates of the, Training College for one year on the same terms as ex-pupil-teachers, little advantage is taken of the privilege. Practically all secondary and home-science teachers go to their work untrained as teachers. Either they do not know of the opportunity for training or circumstances are such as to bring no pressure to bear on them to take, advantage of it. It would be quite simple, with the increase of accommodation and staff that is contemplated, to arrange for the professional training of such students. At present such teachers go to their work, which is teaching, prepared in everything except the art, of teaching.

VII