Appendix B.]

E.—2

Buildings.- Renovation and painting of schools and residences have been proceeding steadily throughout the year, but this most important part of the Board's maintenance work is still somewhat backward. In order to overtake the leeway a second gang of painters has now been engaged. Four new schools were erected during the year, and in a number of other cases additions were made to existing schools. Portable school buildings were erected for the secondary departments of this To Karaka and Wairoa District High Schools, and for Hastings Technical High School. The Board's workshop is now firmly established, and has proved to be a fine asset for the Board. A large proportion of the joinery and all furniture required for the various schools is manufactured. Considerable difficulty has, however, been experienced during the year in procuring suitable timber. The Board uses only heart timber ; and, while there is ample supply of ordinary building-timber, heart timbers are in short supply. Many jobs have been delayed owing to the difficulty of obtaining suitable timber. The practice has been followed as far as possible, in connection with buildings in wood, of carrying out the work by tho Board's own staff. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. ' G. F. Roach, Chairman.

WELLINGTON. Sib,— Wellington, 31st March, 1924. In accordance with the requirements of the Education Act, 1914, I have the honour to submit the following report of the Education Board of the District of Wellington for the year 1923: — Board. —The Board membership has not changed since presentation of my last report, the personnel, therefore, being as follows:—Urban areas: (1) Wellington City —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 areas : (1) Hutt-Horowhenua Ward—Messrs. W. H. Field, M.P., and C. I. Harkness ; (2) Wairarapa Ward—Messrs. T. Moss and W. T. Grundy ; (3) Marlborough Ward —Messrs. E. H. Penny and D. McCallum. Board representatives : High schools —Wellington Colleges, the Chairman ; Marlborough College, Messrs. R. McCallum, C. Ferguson, and W. D. Pike ; Masterton High School, Messrs. W. T. Grundy, T. Moss, and T. Jordan ; Hutt Valley High School, Messrs. G. T. London, E. P. Rishworth, and the Mayor of Petone. Technical schools —Wellington, Messrs. T. Forsyth, J. J. Clark, and A. J. White ; Masterton, Mr. W. T. Grundy ; Petone, Messrs. G. T. London and D. McKenzie. Schools and Attendance. —There were at the end of the year 247 schools in operation, a reduction of nine on the previous year's figures. This reduction is accounted for by the fact that many aided schools were closed, the education of the children being continued by means of the Education Department's correspondence course. The average attendance was 90-5 per cent, of the average roll, a considerable reduction on the previous year's figures. The following are the percentages in successive years: 1923, 90-5; 1922, 91-8; 1921, 9LO; 1920, 87-5; 1919, 91-5; 1918, 90-0; 1917, 90-6; 1916, 89-2. The number of prosecutions decreased from thirty-five in 1922 to seventeen last year, and of convictions from sixteen to twelve last year, the remainder of the cases being withdrawn or deferred on condition of future regularity. Teaching Staff. —The following were the numbers of teachers, pupil-teachers, and probationers in the service of the Board at the end of the year :—

Males. Females. Total. Certificated .. .. .. .. 182 445 627 Licensed . . .. .. . . 1 3 4 Uncertificated .. ... .. .. 14 67 81 Total adults .. .. ..197 515 ' 712 Pupil-teachers .. .. .. .. 14 37 51 Total teaching staff .. .. 211 552 763 Probationers .. .. .. .. 27 77 104 Grand totals .. .. .. 238 629 867 The above numbers include the teachers in thirty-three small household schools.

VII

ii H lead Teacher. Si . . , Uncertifi- CertifiLicensed. o&Ml 23 04 87 ole Teache: L. Assistants, Certificated. Licensed. Uncertificated. Ceriificated. i Licensed. Uncertificated. Males Pe mules 84: 14 1 2 12 48 75 367 1 2 I!) Totals 98 3 60 412 1 21