E.—l.

22. EVENING TECHNICAL CLASSES AND PART-TIME DAY CLASSES. Evening technical and part-time day classes were conducted at 143 centres during the year, an increase of five over the previous year. As. at Ist July there were 13,430 students on the rolls of these classes in comparison with 12,481 students in 1936. Of the 13,430 students 9,298 were males and 4,132 were females ; 5,447 of the males and 2,367 of the females held free places, a total of 7,814, compared with 7,104 in 1936. The greatest increases in the number of students occurred in the case of those whose occupations were given as labourers, engineers, and mechanics and electricians. 23. NATIVE SCHOOLS. At the end of 1937 the Department directly controlled and maintained 141 Native schools for the primary education of Maori children in districts where the Maori race predominates. The following table shows the number of schools, with the enrolment, as at the Ist July, 1936, and Ist July, 1937 : —

European children to the number of 1,084 were in attendance at Native schools at Ist July, 1937, and are included in the above figures. If these be deducted, the total enrolment of Native children in all primary schools at Ist July becomes 20,094, compared with 19,207 in 1936. The average attendance at Native schools was maintained at a creditably high percentage, 91-1 per cent, of the average weekly roll. Boarding schools for the secondary education of the Maoris have been established by religious denominations, and the Government provides a number of scholarships tenable at these schools, which are inspected by the Department's officers. There were eight schools at the end of last year with an enrolment of 501 pupils, of whom 188 held Government scholarships. Seven Maori boys held University scholarships —two at Victoria University College, three at Auckland University College, and two at Otago University, those at Auckland and Victoria taking a course in arts and those at Otago taking the medical course ; and six Maoris held Agricultural Scholarships —three being tenable at St. Stephen's College, and three at Wesley College. Five Maori girls were holding nursing scholarships—two being held at St. Joseph's, two at Queen Victoria, and one at Turakina. 24. REGISTERED PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. The following table summarizes the returns furnished by registered private primary schools with respect to the year 1937 : —

Table S.

36

I I 1936. 1937. Schools. Roll. Schools. j Roll. Native village schools .. .. .. 140 9,098 140 9,521 Mission and boarding schools (primary) .. 12 674 11 662 Public schools with Native children enrolled 851 10,534 861 10,995 Totals .. .. .. .. 1,003 20,306 1,012 21,178

Undenomi- j Catholic Other , national Church Church Total. Schools. j Schools. Schools. Number of schools .. .. .. 27 225 54 306 Roll at December — Boys .. .. •• 405 11,633 1,510 13,548 Girls .. .. 624 12,091 1,668 14,383 Total .. .. .. 1,029 23,724 3,178' 27,931 Average attendance .. .. 882 21,441 2,858 25,181 Teachers (inclusive of head teachers) — Men 10 53 68 131 Women .. .. .. 62 710 129 901 Total .. .. 72 763 197 1,032