E.—2.

Table II shows that where strictly comparable figures are available there is proof that, in addition to the extraordinary development of the technical high school, which has substituted in a large measure full-time day training for the part-time classes envisaged in 1903, when the first regulations for junior technical scholarships were issued, the evening classes have also increased in numbers and importance.

Table II. —Numbers of Classes other than Classes at a Technical High School.

Observations over a long series of years also convince me that the general standard of work in these evening classes has likewise gradually improved, with the result that in art, in engineering, and particularly in commerce, Students are regularly prepared for the higher professional examinations. I cannot complete this report without expressing my thanks and gratitude to yourself, to the Inspectors of Technical Schools, and to all my fellow-officers in the Education Department, as well as to the Education Boards, Technical and Secondary School Boards, their Principals, staffs, and teachers, who have all by their generous kindness and co-operation made the performance of my duties a much enjoyed privilege. Notable Advances during the Year. Perhaps the most important educational advancement during the year was made by the appointment of Vocational Guidance Officers and Careers Teachers. Eight Vocational Guidance Officers were appointed, two attached to each of the technical schools in the main centres, and to certain selected post-primary schools Careers Teachers were appointed to work in collaboration with the Vocational Guidance Officers; close co-operation with the Labour Department was maintained during the preliminary discussions, and the outcome has been the establishment of a "Youth centre" at each ot the four main cities, where all problems relating to educational and vocational guidance for youths are considered jointly by officers of the Education and Labour Departments. The help and co-operation of the officers of the Labour Department are gratefully acknowledged. Considerable difficulty has been experienced by certain associations of technical classes, and also by Secondary Schools Boards conducting technical classes, in providing for all necessities from the incidental allowances payable on such classes, particularly where expensive materials were required for the classes as in plumbing, welding, wool-classing, invalid cookery, and the like. In the case of large schools having many classes of a theoretical type, where costs are relatively low, allowances on the whole have been sufficient for the needs of the school. To meet the needs of the smaller type of technical school the regulations have been amended so that in lieu of incidentals calculated in the ordinary way a straight-out grant up to a limit of £200 may be made at the discretion of the Minister of Education. During the year consideration was given to the supply of typewriting-machines for all post-primary schools offering commercial courses, and the Government set aside a sum sufficient to provide four hundred machines. Distribution of some of these machines was made towards the end of the financial year, and the remainder will be distributed as supplies come forward. The year under review was one of great activity in technical education; many schools passed all previous enrolment records, and as a consequence heavy pressure was put on both accommodation and equipment ; and many grants were made by the Government to provide improved accommodation and more equipment.

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Art and Trade °™ ! i firtrE*? 1 ' Wood, Iron, and Science, Mathe- a „ ricu » ure &e ■ Domestic ■ Drawing: Number Bnglneering: - Nn ™ber°of Ctees Number of Classes. Number of Classes. Technical School. ot classes. Number of Classes. * umner 01 Classes. j\umDer 01 masses. 1912. 1937. 1912. 1937. 1912. 1937. 1912. j 1937. 1912. 1937. 1912. j 1937. Auckland .. 20 15 27 22 19 41 19 20 2 .. 25 9 Wellington .. 27 51 11 15 11 33 12 24 2 5 6 Christchurch .. 7 17 3 10 21 57 4 33 6 7 23 25 Duneclin .. 6 35 6 17 13 17 13 27 4 1 19 4 Invcrcargill 19 10 .. 12 3 16 5 5 5 .. 5 5 Totals .. 79 128 47 76 67 164 53 109 19 8 77 49 ; Commercial: C0 pIl I ™® tl0n Totals: T t , v ,, j Population of Population per Number of Classes. Number of Classes. Total Pup.ls, , Centre pupl , Technical School. 1912. 1937. 1912. 1937. 1912. 1937. 1912. 1937. 1912. 1937. 1912. 1937. Auckland .. 18 63 21 34 151 204 1,006 2,728 109,000214,200 108 79 Wellington .. 11 46 26 31 105 206 1,155 2,390 73,150151,700 63 63 Christchurch .. 16 45 17 31 97 225 988 2,396 84,011 133.200 85 56 Dunedin .. 20 49 24 41. 105 191 966 1,587 67,290 82,100 70 52 Invcrcargill .. 3 15 8 9 48 72 290 619 16,827 26,000 58 42 Totals .. 68 218 96 146 506 898 4,405 j 9,720 350,278 607,200