E.—s,

6

a substantial proportion of training in subjects relating to the home. Commercial training and business experience are necessarily of value to the housewife, and. if the training in home occupations included with the commercial course is sufficiently good, there does not appear to be any reason for discouraging girls from taking this course, which enables them to maintain themselves until such time as they are called upon to manage a home of their own, and if the course is well balanced, will also make them more efficient and capable housewives. Capitation amounting to £41,113 was earned in respect of 2,926 pupils (of whom 2,754 were free pupils), as compared with £32,474 in 1918 in respect of 2,747 pupils.

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

Financial. The total capitation earnings of all classes, including technical high schools, amounted approximately to £83,915, as compared with £67,391 for the previous year. The amount of capitation earnings shows an average rate of £4-02 per student, compared with £3 - 4 for the previous year. A far better comparison, however, is made when the rates for technical-high-school pupils and technical-class pupils are compared separately. Thus in 1919 the average rate of capitation per pupil in technical high schools was £14-05, as compared with £11-8 in the previous year. As regards capitation in technical classes, the average rate per pupil was £2-85, as compared with £2-46 in 1918. In the case of technical classes the revised rates of capitation provided under regulations issued in 1919 were intended to produce an average increase of 16 per cent., and this appears to have been fairly accurately realized, though there were considerable variations in particular cases. The following table shows the receipts and payments for 1919 in respect of classes conducted by Education Boards or by High School Boards, and by Technical School Boards or Managers (including in each, case technical high schools) :—

Boys. 1918. Girls. 1919. Girls. Total. Total. Boys. i ■ c i Jbirst year Junior tree pupils \ a \ L I (Second year f First year Senior free pupils <j Second year [_ Third year 700 353 84 22 3 711 449 152 27 3 1,411 802 236 49 6 821 411 106 9 4 710 402 182 44 5 1,531 873 288 53 9 Totals 1,162 1,342 2,504 1,351 1,403 2,754

Classes co: iducted by Education or High School Boards. Technical School Boards or Managers. Totals. Receipts. £ 26,654 2,528 2,136 6,292 4,920 £ 54,643 5,221 5,479 4,523 11,196 £ 81,297 7,749 7,615 10,815 16,116 Capitation Class fees Voluntary contributions and subsidies Grants for buildings, &c. Other receipts Totals for 1919 Totals for 1918 42,530 41,986 . 81,062 54,680 123,592 96,666 Total for the two years 220,258 Payments. 24,437 8,861 5,834 420 46,488 17,660 10,564 2,694 Staff salaries Working-expenses.. Buildings, &o. Other payments 70,925 26,521 16,398 3,114 Totals for 1919 Totals for 1918 39,552 51,629 77,406 60,221 116,958 111,850 Total for the two years 228,808