E.—2.

Figures supplied in the same tables also show, however, that of the 2,067 boys referred to, 952 had not passed Form II; 1,142 girls of the 2,732 whose destination is described as " home " were in like case. Thus about 47 per cent, of boys entering farming pursuits from the primary school had a comparatively low standard of education, whereas only about 20 per cent, of all boys leaving primary school had not passed Form 11. The inference to be drawn from these figures, which have remained substantially the same for some years, is that farm labour is largely recruited from boys who have not reached an average educational standard. The weakness of the position is further emphasized by a consideration of the educational attainments of all pupils who leave school for farming pursuits, the relevant figures being— Leaving primary school, not passed Form II .. .. 952, or 29 per cent. Leaving primary school, passed Form II .. .. 1,115, or 33 per cent. Leaving intermediate schools .. .. .. .. 65, or 2 per cent. Leaving post-primary schools .. .. .. .. 851, or 26 per cent. Leaving secondary departments, district high schools .. 320, or 10 per cent. Totals .. .. .. .. .. 3,303 100 We are thus faced with the somewhat disquieting fact that of each three recruits to the Dominion's greatest single industry one has not passed Form 11, one had passed that standard and left, and one has had one or more years of post-primary education. The efforts made to provide further educational facilities in the rural districts have not met with a very favourable response. Opportunities exist there, as elsewhere, for the formation of technical classes under fairly easy conditions ; but there have been remarkably few examples of the successful establishment of technical classes in subjects that have any bearing on the life of the rural community. It may be that the more highly organized attempts now being made in the Feilding district by ,fhe board of managers of the technical High School to extend its sphere of influence into the surrounding villages and to attract country people to use the equipment available in the town through the medium of meetings which are essentially technical classes will give us some positive assistance in devising better methods for dealing with the problem. It may be that existing organizations, of which the youngest is the Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, will become centres of culture in their communities. But whatever may happen for the benefit of the adult members of the rural community it is surely desirable that, with the raising of the school age, the increased facilities for transport, and the provision of a more liberal boarding-allowance, secondary departments of district high schools and other post-primary schools serving typically rural communities should be prepared to meet in adequate fashion the reasonable demands of those who for one reason or another at present elect to take no advantage of the educational opportunities presented to them. W. 8. La Teobe, Superintendent of Technical Education. F. C. Renyardl Inspectors of Manual and Technical G. V. Wild J Education. The Director of Education, Wellington.

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