E.—s

66

In domestic subjects, cookery, home nursing, home-management, dressmaking and millinery there has been a healthy increase of over 50 per cent, on last year's figures. This is extremely satisfactory, and augurs well for future wives and mothers. The new metalwork-shop added during the year has proved a very acceptable addition to the buildings and a great convenience to the class. We are getting a little cramped for room for evening classes, and the Managers will soon have the question of increased accommodation before them. In wool-classing we were unable to start a second class at Methven owing to lack of support, but there will be probably sufficient students for next year. The Ashburton class was about the same as usual, but inquiries have already been made for a second class for next year to be held in the evening. The sheep-shearing class has been successful, a few students taking on the blades, but with a view to encouraging blade shearing for back-country farmers we have started a blade shearing class at Anama, and we are giving the instruction free. Mr. Pawson has kindly placed accommodation and sheep at the disposal of the olass. Five students entered for the shearing competitions at the Christchurch Agricultural and Pastoral Show, and one was awarded first prize in the blade class. At the City and Guilds of London examination twelve students sat for cookery and nine obtained passes. There were six entries for trade subjects and five passes. Two students sat for Public Service Entrance Examination, and thirty-two have entered for senior free places, the results of which are not yet to hand. We have now boys' and girls' hockey clubs, which have added greatly to the social sick, of the school. For so young a club the girls are to be congratulated in getting into the final of the five-a-side competition. I hope that the exhibit now on view in the school will be visited by large numbers of people, anol that it will help them to realize what we are striving to do in the interest of the community, and, incidentally, in the interest of the Empire as a whole, for we are now in the gravest and greatest crisis in the history of the British Empire. We cannot all serve by directly and immediately taking up arms for service abroatl—though all connected with this institution should be proud to know that two of its instructors, Mr. S. G. Brister and Major A. J. Childs, and a former art master, Mr. G. K. Webber, are now on active service. There is, however, a victory that every member of this institution and every member of the community who remains at home can strive for, which, if won, will have, after our decisive victory of arms, a far-reaching ami lasting effect upon the ultimate destiny of the British nation —I mean the victory and supremacy of industrialism, in which our enemy has up to the present been in the forefront. To do this we must make greater efforts to give a thorough and complete training in the technical branches of all industries. Here is where Governments, local bodies, and. individuals' can, by putting the issue clearly before the younger generation, show and incite a true loyalty and patriotism and thus help to achieve a lasting victory. It will then be handed down to posterity that those who could not serve their country by directly bearing arms did, by the keen foresight of the older and the willing loyalty of the younger, bring about an industrial victory which raised the British Empire to the zenith of its power and glory. I have to thank the members of the staff for their individual and collective efforts that have carried the school to the end of a prosperous year. The thanks of the Managers are due to the following contributing bodies : County Council, Borough Council, Canterbury Sheepowners' Union, Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, High School Board, Borough and Hampsteaol School Committees, and private subscribers who have contributed monetary and other support. I must again personally thank the Managers for the support and assistance they have given me throughout the year. A. L. Moore, Director. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1914, in respect of Classes conducted al, Ashburton, Methven, and Tinwald by the Ashburton Technical Classes Association. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s . d. Capitation on classes .. .. .. 739 4 4 Dr. balance at beginning of year .. .. 119 18 10 Capitation on account of free places .. 177 1 9 Salaries of tenchirg staff.. .. .. 1,037 1 7 Buildings .. .. .. •• 120 0 0 Material for olass use .. .. .. 277 1 7 Rent .. .'.' .. •• •• 20 14 0 Rent .. .. .. .. .. 13 0 0 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 150 18 6 Repairs and maintenance .. .. 52 17 6 Material .. .. .. •• 93 2 5 Caretaker .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 140 17 1 Lighting and heating .. .. .. 51 14 0 Fees and other class payments .. .. 345 7 7 Insuranoe .. .. .. .. 7 4 4 Salos of material .. .. •. 29 19 9 Office expenses (including salaries, &o.) .. 80 2 4 Voluntary contributions .. .. .. 130 14 6 Advertising and printing.. .. .. 41 17 9 On account of primary-school classes .. 221 13 0 Travelling-expenses, conveyance, &c. .. 34 9 4 On account of high-school classes.. .. 59 5 0 Text-books and stationery .. .. 44 0 9 Deposits, refunds, toxt-books and stationery 58 8 1 Prizes .. .. .. .. .. 30 5 9 Sundries .. .. • • • • 43 10 7 Deposits refunded .. .. .. 20 0 0 Freight and cartage .. .. .. 517 0 Bank charges and auditor .. .. 4 8 2 Sundries .. .. .. .. 14 11 6 Buildings .. .. .. .. 127 11 8 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 243 1 3 Cr. balance at end of year .. .. 87 13 3 £2,348 17 1 £2,348 17 1 H. Davis, Chairman ) ~T A. L. Moore, Secretary j of Mana § ers -