8.—3

4

Natives attending Public Schools. There is no reason to depart from the opinion expressed in previous reports that Maori children make better progress in schools specially instituted for their particular need than they do in the ordinary public schools. The public schools they attend are generally small sole-teacher schools in which it is impossible for the Maori pupils to receive the special attention in language-training they require, and thus they become seriously handicapped in almost every branch of school-work. Maoris at public schools also display a lack of interest and an irregularity of attendance not at all apparent when they are attending their own schools, with the result, remarked upon before, that they are found principally in the lower classes and are generally more backward than European pupils. Secondary Education and Free Places. The Government has not instituted any schools especially for the secondary education of Maoris, but a number of such schools having been established and being maintained by the various denominational bodies, the Government subsidizes them by providing at them a number of scholarships or free places for Maori children possessing the requisite qualifications. The value of the free places is £30 per annum, and they are tenable for two years. The roll number of these schools (ten in number) at the end of 1920 was 474, of which number forty-eight boys and fifty girls held the free places referred to. One free place was also held at a private secondary school. The great majority of the, scholars were ex-pupils of Native schools. The syllabus of work to be followed by free-place holders is prescribed by the Department, and is designed, to secure such industrial training as is considered desirable in the case of Maoris : the boys learn agriculture and woodwork, and the girls take a domestic course. The Makarini and Buller Scholarships were founded out of private bequests, and are tenable by Maori scholars at Te Aute College. One senior and one junior Makarini Scholarship and one Buller Scholarship were awarded in 1920. Senior free places are provided for boys in the form of industrial scholarships, which enable the holders to be apprenticed to suitable trades, but for some years past, unfortunately, there have been no candidates for these scholarships. Senior free places for girls take the form of nursing-scholarships. At the end of 1920 two girls had completed their course as day pupils, and were then to be engaged as probationers in public hospitals. Another scholarship-holder is now nearing the completion of her training as a nurse. University scholarships are available for Maoris possessing the necessary qualifications, one such scholarship being at present current and being held by a Maori engineering student studying at Canterbury College. Staffs and Salaries. The staffs of Native village schools in December, 1920, included seventy-three male and forty-six female head or sole teachers and 144 assistants, of whom nine were males, making a total of 263 teachers. The amended regulations of 1920 provided for further increases in the salaries of Native-school teachers, with the result that the average salaries show a substantial increase over those of the previous year. The great advance that has taken place in salaries since 1914 is made clear in the following figures indicating the average salaries for the years shown : — 1914. 1918. 1919. 1920. £ £ £ £ Male head or sole teachers .. .. ..180 212 275 310 Female head or sole teachers . . . . 144. 164 219 236 All head or sole teachers .. .. .. 172 194 254 281 Male assistants .. .. .. ■ • 1 fi« J 82 115 124 Female assistants .. .. .. ..ft 90 116 139 The increases since 1914 range from 63 to 109 per cent., and the salaries now payable must be regarded at least as approaching what may be deemed adequate remuneration. In the majority of Native schools husband and wife both teach, drawing separate salaries, and in addition to salary they either receive a house