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co-ordinating and developing higher education in agriculture. The School of Agriculture consists of the Canterbury Agricultural College and the Massey Agricultural College. Modern developments are making the teaching of the principles of personal safety an essential part of the school curriculum. The Education Department accordingly places great importance on the teaching of the theory and practice of safety on the highway. The Department has a representative on the Road Safety Council, and lias co-operated with the Transport Department in the compilation and distribution of a pamphlet addressed to parents and children on the question of road safety. From time to time advice on this matter is issued to teachers through the medium of the Education Gazette. Advice has also been given on the handling of firearms, the danger associated with detonators and electric wires, and on the prevention of fire. In my report last year reference was made to the possibility of a larger grant being made available in 1937 for free kindergartens. I am pleased to say that Parliament voted £10,000, as against £6,000 for the previous year, and the distribution of the increased amount was effected in accordance with the amended regulations made in that behalf which provided for payment on the average number of pupils on the roll for each term instead of on the average attendance for the year. This is advantageous to the kindergartens and has enabled them to raise the salaries of some, at least, of their teachers. In addition to the increased amounts available by way of capitation, the grant available has enabled financial assistance to be given towards the cost of kindergarten buildings in cases where funds have been raised locally. An event of outstanding importance during the year was the visit of the delegation of lecturers for the New Education Fellowship Conference, the New Zealand sessions of which were held at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin during the month of July. The attendance of teachers and others at the lectures and the seminars exceeded all expectations, and unprecedented enthusiasm was manifest during the whole of the conference, which could not, therefore, have any but a stimulating and inspiring effect upon the teachers and the public. Every one who took an interest in the conference appreciated the opportunity of meeting and of hearing ladies and gentlemen who were familiar because of the pre-eminent positions they occupied in the educational world. It is difficult to assess the value of such a visit, but it must have been very great. It was the privilege of my senior officers and myself to spend a couple of days in consultation with members of the delegation in connection with matters of administration, and I wish to record my appreciation of, and thanks for, the assistance I received on that occasion. One of the first results of the visit of the delegates has been the formation of branches in the four chief centres for the purpose of study and research. Under the scheme relating to the exchange of New Zealand teachers with those from other parts of the Empire, twenty-three New Zealand teachers were serving abroad. Of these, eleven exchanged with teachers from Great Britain, four with teachers from Canada, and eight with teachers representing all the Australian States except Queensland. Two exchanges were arranged between post-primary teachers in Wales and Tasmania respectively, the balance beingexchanges of primary-school teachers. During the year 1937 there was increased activity amongst boys' and girls' agricultural clubs. In the 1935-36 season there were approximately 5,210 entries and some 4,000 projects completed, while for the following season there were 9,600 and 6,750 respectively. The majority of projects were calf-rearing and crop-growing, but in a few cases projects in beekeeping and pig-rearing were attempted. The Stuart Wilson Cup is awarded for the most meritorious performance in root-crop competitions, while the Henry A. Lane Shield is awarded to the school obtaining the highest points in club competitions. The Cup was awarded to R. Balsom, of Meremere School, Taranaki, and the Henry A. Lane Shield to Bird Road School, Taranaki.

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