E.—2

Examinations. At the August examinations for the teachers' handicraft certificate there were twenty-eight candidates, of whom two were successful in qualifying for the award of Of the remaining twenty-six candidates five were successful in completing Section I of the examination, three were successful in completing Section 111 (but still required at least one subject in another section to complete the whole examination) while five others improved their status. Of the twenty-eight candidates who sat for the examination thirteen failed to improve their position. The following is a summary of the results of the technological examination held in November, 1932 :— Plumbing : Preliminary —twenty-six sat, twenty-one passed. Intermediate—fourteen sat, eight passed. Final —three sat, two passed. Motor Mechanics: Preliminary—Six sat, three passed. Intermediate—Eight sat, three passed. Final—Nine sat, six passed. Motor Mechanics (Minor Course) : Preliminary—One sat, one passed. Intermediate —One sat, none passed. Painting and Decorating : Preliminary —One sat, one passed. Carpentery and Joinery : Preliminary —Two sat, two passed. Intermediate —Twelve sat, four passed. Final —Nine sat, two passed. Cabinetmaking : Intermediate —Twelve sat, ten passed. Final—Three sat, two passed. Electrical Wiring : Final —Two sat, two passed. Electrical Fitting : Final—One sat, none passed. Engineering Trades : Preliminary —One sat, one passed. Intermediate —Eleven sat, six passed. Final —Three sat, none passed. Special Examination in Building Construction : Four sat, one passed. For the whole examination the results were as follow : Preliminary, thirty-seven candidates sat and twenty-nine passed : intermediate, fifty-eight sat and thirty-one passed ; final, thirty-four sat and fifteen passed : the totals being, 129 sat for the examinations and seventy-five passed. In 1931 the total number who sat for the examinations was 143 of whom seventy-five passed. The falling-ofi in the total number of candidates is due entirely to the effect of the depression on trades and industry and the consequent reduction in the number of apprentices desiring to enter. In order to offset this effect to some extent, the examination fees were reduced during 1932 by 20 per cent. The examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute continue to be held in New Zealand by the Education Department, but only in the subject of electrical engineering practice and in special subjects for which no provision is made in connection with the Department's own technological examinations. It is proposed to extend the principle, however, in the direction of giving those candidates in engineering trades who have qualified in the intermediate and final grades of the New Zealand examinations an opportunity of taking the City and Guilds examinations in subsequent years. During 1932 candidates for the City and Guilds examinations were as follow :— Electrical Engineering Practice : Grade I (Continuous Current)— Sixty-four sat, forty-three passed. Electrical Engineering Practice : Grade I (Alternate Current)— Eight sat, six passed. Electrical Engineering Practice : Grade II (Continuous Current)— Thirty-six sat, seventeen passed. Electrical Engineering Practice : Grade II (Alternate Current)— Twenty-one sat, eight passed. Electrical Engineering Practice : Final—Eight sat, two passed. The total number of individual candidates was 123, of whom sixty-nine were successful in passing in some section of the examination. As individual candidates are at liberty to enter for both sections of Grade I or Grade II in the same year, the total entries for all sections of the examinations is in excess of the total individual entries. In conclusion, I desire to express my deep appreciation of the earnest and loyal service rendered during the year by the Inspectors of Technical Schools and the other officers concerned with technical instruction. 1 have, &c., W. S. LaTkobe, Superintendent of Technical Education. The Director of Education, Wellington.

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