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Attendance. Average attendance for all districts in 1912 . . .. .. .. 146,282 1913 .. .. .. .. 151,242 Increase in 1913 .. .. .. .. . . 4,960 Increase per cent, in average attendance, 1913 .. .. 3-4 The average attendance during the year 1913 increased by 34 per cent, as compared with an increase of 3-1 per cent, in the average weekly roll number. Otago, with the excellent percentage of 91-8, a record for the Dominion, comes first, Grey, showing a percentage of 90-4 is second, and Wellington, with 90 • 3 per cent, is third. In the Hawke's Bay District the percentage remained stationary, and all other districts, with the exception of North Canterbury, South Canterbury, and Southland, showed an increase. Taranaki and Grey, each with an increase of I*B per cent., showed the most marked improvement. North Canterbury shows the lowest percentage of average attendance —87-9 —a falling-off of o#70 # 7 per cent, from last year. The following figures indicate the attendance per cent, of roll for the last six years :— Attendance per Cent, of Roll. 1908 . . 87-1 1909 .. .. .. .. .. .. 87-8 1910 .. .. .. .. 87-7 1911 .. .. .. .. .. .. 89-3 1912 .. .. .. .. .. 88-9 1913 .. .. .. .. .. .. 89-2 It is satisfactory to find that the slight decrease which took place in 1912, has been followed by an improvement in 1913. In both these years the regularity of attendance was affected by epidemic ailments. The percentage of regularity of attendance continues to be greater in the South Island than in the North. The following comparison is of interest :• — Attendance per Cent, of Roll. North Island. South Island. 1908 .. .. .. .. .. 86-7 87-6 1909 .. .. .. .. .. 87-8 87-8 1910 .. .. .. .. .. 87-4 88-1 1911 .. .. .. .. .. 88-7 90-0 1912 .. .. .. .. .. 88-7 89-2 1913 .. .. .. .. .. 89-0 894 The percentage of regularity in New Zealand is higher than that in several of the more closely settled English-speaking countries. When it is borne in mind that New Zealand's widely scattered population and lack of facilities for transit in remote districts render it difficult to secure regularity of attendance this must be regarded as distinctly satisfactory. The following figures are taken from the latest reports in the possession of the Department:— Attendance per Cent, of Roll. New Zealand .. .. .. .. ■ .. 89-2 Scotland .. .. .. .. .. .. 89-7 England and Wales .. .. .. .. .. 88-7 United States .. .. .. .. .. 72-5 Ireland .. .. .. .. .. .. 71-3 Conditions in the Australian States closely resemble those obtaining in New Zealand. For this reason a comparison is of more than ordinary interest :— Attendance per Cent, of Roll New Zealand .. .. .. .. .. 89-2 Western Australia .. .. .. .. .. 86-3 New South Wales .. .. .. .. .. 80-0 Tasmania .. .. .. .. .. .. 78-0 Queensland .. .. .. .. .. .. 755* Victoria .. .. .. .. .. .. 72-0* South Australia .. .. .. .. .. 70-3* * Baaed on average daily attendance as a'proportion of net enrolment, or number of distinct children on lolls during year.