E.—l

20

to attract male teachers. In its bearing on the matter it is also to be noted that many women teachers remain only a short time in the service, so that as a natural result the proportion of women teachers decreases as the years of service increase. With the exceptions mentioned the proportion of the two sexes must be regarded -as quite satisfactory. In the Auckland District, for example, the ratio of adult males to adult females was as high as 100 : 127, or 100 : 121 if teachers of Grades 0 and I schools are excluded. If we take into consideration the corresponding proportion for primary-school teachers, secondary teachers in district high schools, and secondary schools (exclusive of part-time teachers), and for students in training colleges respectively, the ratio of males to females is as follows : — 1907. 1911. 1912. 1913. 19H. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. Adult primary teachers (omitting schools of Grades 0 and I) 100 : 124 100 : 142 100 : 151 100 : 152 lOOj 159 Pupil-teachers .. .. 100 : 277 100 : 295 100 : 293 100 : 334 100 :" 338 Secondary teachers .. .. 100 :77 100 :84 100 :82 100 : 83 100 :83 Training-college students .. 100 : 315 100 : 197 100 : 252 100 : 251 100 : 249 (hit of a total of 5,874 persons engaged in the above-named branches of the teaching profession, there were, in 1914, 2,101 men and 3,773 women. It will be interesting to see how these figures compare with those from other parts of the world—England, Scotland, and the United States, for instance. In comparing this Dominion with such old-established countries it is necessary to bear in mind that in the latter, the population being comparatively dense and the facilities for transit more numerous, there are few schools corresponding to our Grade oor Grade I schools. Consequently such schools are omitted from the New Zealand figures. Ratio op Women Teaohers' to Men Teachers in Other Countries. England Scotlan 1 United New (Board of Education). ' States. Zealand. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. Adult primary teachers 100 : 292 100 : 274 100 : 378 100 : 159 Secondary teachers .. 100 : 98 * 100 : 130 100 :83 Training-college students 100 : 175 100 : 496 100 : 400 100 : 249 * Information not available. It is apparent from these fig'ares that in the supply of male teachers New Zealand compares favourably with other countries. As about one-half of the children in our public schools are under ten years of age, and one-half of the remainder are girls, it is contended that women teachers are the most suitable for about three-quarters of the school population. It is clear, therefore, that if the proportion of women to men on the staff was much greater, there would still be no cause for alarm as to the efficiency of our staffing. It will be interesting to observe whether the improved salaries provided under the new Act will attract a larger proportion of men to the teaching profession. Salaries of Public-school Teachers. The total amount of all salaries and allowances as at the 31st December, 1914, was £741,136, an increase of £48,241 over that of 1913. This includes pupilteachers' salaries and allowances, £30,185 ; probationers' salaries and allowances, £13,695 ; additional amounts paid to head teachers of district high schools, £1,650 ; and house allowances, £17,695, to head or sole teachers who had no residence provided. However, the. total does not include the corresponding amounts saved in