B.—l

33

These moneys represent the earnings of boys and girls in situations away from the schools, or of those in residence under training whose services are worth more than the cost of their maintenance. According to law, it is at the discretion of the Minster of Education whether payment (with interest) is eventually made to these young people or not. In practice they do receive payment where there is evidence that the applicant's good record after the control of the school has ceased has been good, and that he has a proper investment for the money. In exercise of his discretion the Minister may order forfeiture of the money where a former inmate proves his unworthiness to receive it. In such a case the amount is credited to the Public Account. The following figures are taken from 12 and 13 of the Appendix: — £ s. d. Government expenditure on private schools .. .. .. 2,200 0 0 Government expenditure on special cases at other institutions .. 146 0 0 Infant - life Protection. (See also E.-4, 1911, pages 18-22.) At the end of the year the number of foster-homes licensed under the Infants Act was -705, and the number of children maintained in them for the whole or part of the year was 1,183, of whom 469 were under one year old. The total number of deaths was 26, equal to 2*19 per cent. The report of the Secretary for Education gives detailed information as regards the various phases of the work. The expenditure for the year, amounting to £982 4s. 4d., is accounted for as follows : — £ s. d. Salaries of Visiting Nurses and local representatives .. .. .. 606 0 0 Travelling-expenses of District Agents, Visiting Nurses, and local representatives .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 215 19 0 Payments to foster-parents for board of infants .. .. .. 103 6 4 Office expenses (including rent) and sundries .. .. .. 83 11 10 Less recoveries .. .. .. .. .. 26 12 10 Manual and Technical Instruction. Manual Instruction in Public and Secondary Schools. [E.s—Tables Jl to J6.] Various branches of manual instruction were taught in connection with 63*5 per cent, of the public schools during the year. The percentages for the various Education districts were as follows: Percentage of Schools District. at which Instruction was given. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 43 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 72 Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 93 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 74 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 80 Marlborough ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 57 Grey ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 26 Westland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 37 North Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 68 South Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... ...■ ... 61 Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 63 Southland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 97

.3—E. 1.