E—l

(7) In 1945, on the recommendation of the Ministerial Conference on Education held in Christchurch, I set up a Consultative Committee on Adult Education, whose report is now awaited with interest. It may be expected to lead to an extension of the work of adult education agencies throughout the Dominion. Educational Research Believing that cool and independent research is essential to real progress in education, the Government during the year passed legislation giving statutory existence to the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. The Government now makes a contribution of £3,000 a year towards the expenses of the Council, but, apart from the usual financial audit, has left it entirely free of Government control, so that its researches into New Zealand's educational problems may have the complete impartiality that alone will make them of value. In taking over the major financial responsibility for the New Zealand Council for Educational Research I would pay a tribute to Carnegie Corporation of New York, whose wisdom and generosity led to its foundation ten years ago as an independent agency. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) New Zealand was one of the first of the United Nations to adhere, early in 1946, to the constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. At a preliminary conference held in London in November, 1945, to prepare a draft constitution, New Zealand's chief delegates were Dr. R. M. Campbell, then Official Secretary to the High Commissioner in London, and Mr. A. E. Campbell, Director of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. I have hopes that the creation of UNESCO may mark the beginnings of a deeper mutual understanding between the peoples of the United Nations. Acknowledgments Now that the war is ended I should like to express my thanks to all concerned with the nation's education for the way in which they have carried the burdens that the war has placed upon them. Teachers, administrators, members of controlling bodies, committees, and parents associations, all have had their work vastly increased, and all have known at times the disillusion of working for things that in a country at war were almost unattainable. It says much for the spirit of New Zealand that real progress has been made in the, face of such difficulties and that the country has come out of the war, if I judge the signs aright, with a deepened faith in the need for still more education for its children.

TABLES Table C 1. — PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS by Grade

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Grade. Number of Schools. Grade. Number of Schools. I (1-8) 106 VA (191-230) 35 II (9-24) 632 VB (231-270) 40 IIIA (25-30) 144 Yc (271-310) 27 IIIB (31-70) 530 YD (311-350) 27 IVA (71-110) 166 YI (351-870) 165 IVb (111-150) 94 IYc (151-190) 57 Total 2,023 Thirty-nine schools with side schools attached are counted as separate schools.