E.—3.

that reading in the primer division is now more fluent and intelligent. The inclusion in the time-table of a special period for speech-training has had a beneficial effect on the quality of speech and of oral reading. Previous criticisms of the mechanical treatment of the study and recitation of poems must still stand. There is far more involved in the appreciation of poetry than its mere memorization and enunciation. In general, schools have made more provision for the use of apparatus and for the teaching of practical arithmetic. Mechanical arithmetic appears to have reached a very fair standard, but by no means a satisfactory one. No more can be expected until it is realized that proficiency m quick handling of numbers depends upon oral and not upon written work. The treatment of problems and the driving-home of arithmetical principles are facilitated by the use of a greater number of easy oral examples. Schemes in history are Satisfactory, but in practice it has been found that only a few of the history stories set down for the year's work have been taken. Informal dramatization of these stories is improving, and in one or two schools the local history of the tribe has been a source of great interest. The teaching of geography appears to suffer from the lack of adequate-lesson preparation by the teacher and the paucity of suitable illustrations and practical demonstration. Singing in most schools is well taught. 14. Proficiency Examination. This year all candidates were examined at a synchronous examination held on the Ist December. Two hundred and sixty-two candidates were presented for the examination, of whom 147 were awarded proficiency certificates and fifty-one competency certificates. 15. Maoki Mission Schools. There are eleven Mission Schools controlled and maintained by denominational authorities. Ten of these schools were visited by your Inspectors, and all satisfied the conditions necessary for their registration. Five hundred and thirty-seven children are enrolled in the mission schools, the average attendance at which is 469-7. In most of the schools the instruction given is of a satisfactory nature. 16. Brief Survey of Maori Secondary Education. Prior to 1880 the Native schools were under the administration of the Native and Defence Department and a payment for the maintenance and tuition of Government scholars at four private schools controlled and administered by denominational authorities (St. Stephen s, Te Aute, Hukarere, and St. Joseph's) was made by that Department. When the Education Department assumed control in 1880 the general principle of subsidizing schools maintained by religious bodies continued as the best means of providing advanced or secondary education for the Maori. The subsidies took the form of scholarships which were awarded by the permanent head of the Department to the pupils of Native schools who were most likely to benefit from further study. At first these scholarships were of an annual value of £15 and entitled the holders to two years' boarding and tuition at schools approved by the Department. This system still obtains, but the value of the scholarships has considerably increased, as will be seen from the following table, which indicates the development of Government provision for Maori secondary education from the year 1918 :

The expenditure per annum for the following years was: 1917, £2,361 ; 1922, £3,805; 1927, £5,601 ; 1932, £4,258. In 1931, owing to the financial depression, the scholarships were reduced by one-faith m number and by one-tenth in value. As no secondary schools for Maoris are maintained by the Department, the expenditure on scholarships is the only provision by which secondary education for Maori children attending Native schools is made. In this connection it must be remembered that the Maoris themselves, by large gifts of land in former years, have provided rents from which the denominational schools derive, their principal source of income. In order to permit the brightest scholars to have the benefit of a third-year secondary education the Maori Purposes Fund Control Board awarded twenty-five Continuation Scholarships. In 1931 this number was reduced to twenty, but this year none was awarded. However, in lieu of the award of Continuation Scholarships, the Maori Purposes Fund Control Board now subsidizes all the Government scholarships by £3 10s. per annum, thus maintaining their value at the original figure, £35. The Purposes Fund Control Board, in addition to granting the above Continuation Scholarships, previously granted each scholar £6 per annum to assist with clothing. This allowance, however, was also withdrawn this year. The Department makes- provision for education beyond the second year, but within narrowly defined limits. For boys, Senior Agricultural Scholarships were established, tenable for twô years, either in the service of a farmer or under the control of the Agriculture Department, or at a school or college established for the secondary education of the Maoris, where suitable practical or theoretical instruction

5

Number of Annual Value of Year. Scholarships. ! Scholarship. ; j L_ " ' 5 •' ' " £ s. d. 1918 .. . ■ • • 142 20 0 0 1919 .. .. • • 142 30 0 0 1927 .. ■■ • • 160 30 0 0 1929 .. . •• 174 35 0 0 1930 .. .. 169 35 0 0 1931 .. .. • • 136 31 10 0 1932 .. .. •■ 128 ' 31 10 0