ing year, courses in painting and panel beating were started at Christchurch, and in 1965, plastering was introduced at Lower Hutt. The annual intake of boys at each of the three carpentry centres is 24. The six one-year courses each cater for classes of 12 boys.

Holiday Work During the May and September secondary school holidays, when the technical institutes are closed, the Maori trainees are temporarily attached to private employers. This gives the employers an excellent chance to assess the value of the scheme and the capabilities of the trainees.

Good Trade Examination Results The trade examination results of boys trained under the schemes are generally better than the national average for all apprentices. Some outstanding examination results have been obtained, not only by individual trainees but also by whole groups. Last year all the boys in a class of 21 first-year carpentry trainees at Gracefield passed both papers of the First Qualifying Examination. Fourteen of the boys obtained marks ranging from 70% to 94% in one examination paper, and 11 trainees had marks between 70% and 83% in the other paper. In the Second Qualifying Examination in carpentry, 19 trainees sat Paper A, and 18 passed. At Auckland, a former electrical trainee, Eric Beazley from Northland, won a gold medal for gaining the highest marks (96 per cent) as the top electrical apprentice in New Zealand. The previous year, another former Auckland trainee, Peter Papanui, a carpenter, won the Governor-General's Gold Cup as the best apprentice in all trades at the Auckland Technical Institute. At Christchurch, two boys from the painting and paper-hanging course, Pari Hunt from Ahititi, and John Ngaire from Putaruru, won the Taubman's Travel Award.

Special Apprentices' Hostels The success of the schemes is due in no small measure to placing the trainees in suitable hostels where they receive the benefit of close but friendly supervision and helpful advice and guidance. Four hostels of about 180 beds are now being used at Auckland. Of these, two are owned by the Department. Owens Road Hostel, a new property, was purchased by the Department last year and has accommodation for 50 boys. It is leased to the United Maori Mission. Domett Avenue Hostel was taken over from the Department of Labour in 1965 and a new 30-bed wing has since been built by the carpentry trainees. This hostel is leased to the Presbyterian Church. A third hostel, Gillies Avenue, is owned by the Maori Trustee. This is also leased to the United Maori Mission. The fourth hostel is at Dominion Road, and is owned and operated by the Presbyterian Church. The Lower Hutt trainees are all provided with accommodation at the Trentham Immigration Hostel, owned and operated by the Department of Labour. At Christchurch two hostels are used. One, Rehua Hostel, is owned by Central Methodist Mission and the Department of Maori Affairs is financing the erection of a new three-storied, 33-bed wing, which will be completed before the end of the year. Hanson's Lane Hostel, at Riccarton, was earlier taken over from the Department of Labour and leased to the Social Service Council, Diocese of Christchurch. Major extensions to this property are also under way by the Department to provide a further 30 beds. This new work is also being carried out by Maori trainees and will be completed before the end of the year.

Rapidly Increasing Numbers To date 673 boys have been taken into the training schemes. Of these, 423 have completed their training and have been placed with employers. So far, 114 former trainees, all carpenters, have completed their apprenticeships. The number of drop-outs after apprenticeship to employers has been low. At the moment, more than 200 boys are receiving training and at the present rate of intake, some 1,100 boys will have been taken into the trade training scheme by 1970.

National Interests Being Served The skilled worker and technologist is in greater demand today than ever before. The Department of Maori Affairs is well aware of the large number of Maoris in unskilled employment, and has taken positive steps to change the situation. It is evident that these trade training schemes are now making a significant and important contribution to the industrial development of the nation, and to the Maori's place in modern society. Although much more still remains to be done, it can be said that, as the first step in closing the gap