Appendix B.J

E.— 2.

VII

Gisborne Technical School. —Twenty-one evening technical and continuation classes, with a total average attendance of 191, have been conducted by the Board during the past year at Gisborne, and have been very successful. Physical Instruction. —An instructress has been permanently located in the district during the past year, and more attention has therefore been given to this branch of work. Medical Inspection. —A School Medical Officer is now attached to this district, and inspection has proceeded, steadily throughout the year. To make the scheme a success, however, more frequent visits are necessary, which would entail a larger medical staff. Parents take a keen interest in the inspection of their children, and the majority are only too willing to carry out any advice given them, by the Medical Officer. Dental Clinics. —No dental clinic has yet been established in this district. This matter was brought under your notice last year, and it is hoped that a sufficient staff will soon be available to permit of the establishment of one or more local clinics. Buildings. —Renovation and painting of schools and residences has been proceeded with steadily throughout the year The difficulty of providing necessary materials, together with the high cost of labour and materials, has compelled the Board to curtail its activities in this connection. The new buildings programme undertaken during the year was the heaviest in the history of the Board. New schools were completed at Tahunga and Hastings East, while the infant department of the new Napier Central School was completed. The main portion of the latter school was completed in time for the opening of school in 1921. Additions to existing schools were made at Gisborne East, Gisborne West, Hastings West, Napier West, and Napier South, and to the Waipawa woodwork-room. The Waipukurau School was added to and entirely remodelled, and sewerage connection was made to the Gisborne West School. New residences were erected at Ngatapa and Twyford, while additions to existing residences were made at Motuhora, Puketitiri, Rissington, Taradale, and Takapau. The residence at Te Karaka was rebuilt. The following new works were in progress at the end of 1920 : Taradale, new infant school ; Napier Central, new school ; Havelock North, additions to residence ; Waipukurau, removal of residence ; Olive Grange, new school; Pukeh.amoam.oa, new school; Hastings West, installation of hot-water heating ; Mangaheia, new school ; Tikokino, remodelling of school; Fernhill, remodelling and additions. Finance. —The receipts for the year totalled £182,913 Bs. 5d., and the payments £189,845 6s. 3d. The credit cash balance on all accounts on the 31st December, 1920, was £3,088 10s. 7d, 1 have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. G. F. Roach, Chairman.

WELLINGTON. SIR,— Wellington, 31st March, 1921. In accordance with the requirements of the Education Act, 1914, 1 beg to submit the following report of the Education Board of the District of Wellington for the year 1920 : — Board. —The Board membership at the end of the year was :■■ —Urban areas : (1) Wellington City and former Boroughs of Karori, Onslow, and Miramar —Messrs. Thomas Forsyth (Chairman), R. A. Wright, M.P., J. J. Clark, and A. J. White ; (2) Hutt and Petone—Messrs. G. T. London and E. P. Rishworth. Rural area: (1) Hutt-Horowhenua Ward Messrs. W. H. Field, M.P., and C. I. Harkncss ; (2) Wairarapa Ward —Messrs. T. Moss and W. T. Grundy ; (3) Marlborough Ward — Messrs. R. McCallum, M.P., and E. H. Penny. The Board's representative managers of technical schools were : Wellington■- -Messrs. T. Forsyth, J. J. Clark, A. J. White, A. G. Wallace, L. R. Partridge, G. L. Stewart; Petone —Messrs. G. T. London, H. Baldwin, 1). McKenzie, and W. B. Nicholson ; Masterton —Mr. W. T. Grundy. Schools and Attendance. —Twenty-six schools were closed, and thirty-six were opened or reopened, so that at the end of the year there were in operation 256 schools, an increase of ten since the end of 1919. The following figures give the average roll and average attendance numbers for the years 1919 and 1920 :— Average Average Roll Numbers. Attendance. Year 1920 .. .. .. .. .. ..24,760 21,683 Year 1919 .. .. .. .. .. .. 24,785 22,692 Decrease .. .. .. .. 25 1,009 The average attendance and also the admission of very young children were much affected by epidemic illness extending over a large part of the year, and the average, 87-5 per cent., is the lowest for many years. The following are the percentages in the years named: 1920, 875 ; 1919, 91-5; 1918, 90-0 ; 1917, 906 ; 1916, 89-2. It was found necessary to take proceedings in fifty-five cases of persistent irregularity. The convictions recorded were forty-five, one was dismissed, and the remainder of the oases were withdrawn on condition of future regularity. The Board wishes to record again its opinion that legislation should be enacted imposing a penalty on any employer of a child of school age during school-hours.