B.—l

XII

cannot but be regarded as a healthy sign, undoubtedly brought about by the more liberal provision made of late for teachers' salaries. The proportion of male pupil-teachers to female pupil-teachers, which rose from the ratio of 1 to 4*22 in 1902 to 1 to 376 in 1903 and 1 to 3"51 in 1904, has become almost stationary, the figures for last year being 1 to 350. In other words, during the last three years the number of male pupil-teachers has remained fairly constant (143 in 1902 as compared with 151 in 1905), while that of female pupil-teachers has decreased from 604 in 1902 to 528 in 1905. The average number of pupils to each adult teacher, reckoning two pupil-teachers as one adult, was 346. The total of all salaries and allowances at the rates paid at the end of the year was £431,089 13s. This includes the salaries and lodging-allowances of pupilteachers as well as all salaries, house-rent, and other allowances paid to adult teachers ; the average salary per teacher, including pupil-teachers, was therefore £113 17s. 6d. A fairer idea could probably be gained by excluding pupil-teachers, and by deducting all allowances in the case of adult teachers ; it is then found that the average net salary of an adult male teacher was in December, 1905, £174 14s. 9d., as compared with £170 4s. 2d. in 1904 ; average salary per woman teacher, £96 6s. lid., as against £93 Bs. Bd. ; average salary for all adults £128 17s. 5d., as against £125 ss. 10d. per teacher. Table F3 gives the numbers of certificated teachers in public schools, exclusive of those engaged in secondary schools or as special assistants in district high schools. It is noticeable that there is a very large increase in the numbers of holders of licenses to teach, and a corresponding decrease in the numbers of other teachers who have partly qualified for certificates. The reasons for this difference are that by a provision of the Education Act a license to teach, during its currency, entitles the holder to all the privileges of a full certificate, and that, partly on this account, partly in order to enjoy the benefits of the provisions of the Superannuation Act, many uncertificated teachers have recently applied for, and been granted, licenses to teach. It is a matter for regret that whereas the number of fully qualified teachers has for the last few years remained practically constant that of unqualified or partly qualified teachers has greatly increased. The latter, it may be said, are to a great extent employed in small schools with ten pupils or less in average attendance. The scale of staff prescribed by the Public School Teachers' Salaries Act of 1901 led to the diminution of the number of pupil-teachers, and a corresponding increase in the number of adult teachers. " The supply of certificated teachers in the colony being, however, less than the demand for new adult teachers it was inevitable that a certain number of uncertificated teachers should for a time be appointed to fill the vacancies. The shortage still exists ; but it is hoped that now that all four training colleges are at work there will shortly be a very considerable increase in the number of fully qualified teachers.

TABLE F3.—Teachers, Certificated and Uncertificated, 31st December, 1905.

Certificated. Uncertificated. co' ~ © OS "J © -t3 cd © B co S * 33 © as o 2 rH Td o B © a T33 © — © o .3.33, fl © ,-H "O 03 Ssa-SojgS o © gag ©*£ dS3„«o © 3 5 — O B^gS o a co a.2 S gta g s S - o cdr3 33; FH^S« ■3 K 3 o B I Cfl O B ■o 3 cd 5 Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 541 90 223 269 151 31 103 27 19 352 111 378 165 3 3 1 i 544 90 223 272 152 31 104 27 19 355 112 378 166 80 12 28 31* 11 11* 19 1 7 22 9* 20 19 15 7 11 2 3 3 12 5 1 8 1 10 12 57 6 43 22 18 29 27 14 14 18 4 28 40 152 25 82 55 32 43 58 20 22 48 14 58 71 696 115 305 327 184 74 162 • 47 £41 403 126 436 237 3 1 1 Total for 1905 Total for 1904 Total for 1903 Total for 1900 Total for 1897 Total for 1894 Total for 1891 Total for 1888 2,460 2,467 2,450 2,369 2,244 1,984 1,753 1,496 13 23 32 137 111 2,473 2,490 2,482 2,506 2,355 1,984 1,753 1,496 270 50 34 14 14 90 205 172 77 109 114 131 182 320 349 340 171 182 162 190 246 680 604 546 262 305 276 321 428 3,153+ 3,094 3,028 2,768 2,660 2,260 2,074 1,924 * Including 1 pupil-teacher. t Including 16 pupil-teachars,