E.—s

2

The total number of students in attendance at all classes during the year was 20,202, of which number 6,983 received free education either under Government regulations or as holders of scholarships or free places locally provided. Capitation payments to controlling authorities totalled £48,475, being at the rate of £2-4 per student. The practical interest taken by local bodies, industrial organizations, and others in technical education, which for years has been a prominent feature of the system, has been well sustained. Contributions in money from the. above sources totalled over £5,000 for the year, and this in spite of the many calls on the community for patriotic and war purposes. These contributions, which carry a Government subsidy of £1 for £1, form a welcome addition to the funds of the school authorities. The Government ha,s, as far as financial considerations arising out of the war have permitted, favourably entertained applications for grants in aid of necessary buildings and equipment. The amount distributed during the year for these purposes was £13,461. Last year £14,753 was so distributed. New or additional buildings have been provided in connection with Napier Technical College, and Palmerston North, Westport, and Temuka Technical Schools, while necessary equipment has been provided for classes at the following schools, among others : " Elam " School of Art, Auckland ; New Plymouth, Wanganui, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Southland Technical Colleges ; and Palmerston North, Westport, and Greymouth Technical Schools. About sixty specially designed and well-equipped buildings are now available for purposes of technical instruction. Where special buildings have not yet been provided (i.e., in country centres) use is made of the local public schools or of suitable rented buildings. During the year classes were held at twenty-nine such centres in the Wanganui District, at twentyeight in the Taranaki District, at eleven in the Otago District, at ten in the Auckland District, and at smaller numbers in the remaining nine districts. Classes other than Classes at Technical High Schools. Classes were held at 168 centres, an increase of thirty. The number of classes and the number of individual students were as follows : —

Capitation payments for the year totalled £27,490 (including £7,771 on account of free technical education), being at the rate of £1-5 per student. It has to be remembered in this connection that for these classes payment is not made on account of any student for more than 400 hour-attendances a year, and further that a large proportion, of the students do not make more than from sixty to eighty hourattendances a year. The rates of capitation vary from 2d. to Bd. an hour, according to the stage and nature of the instruction. These rates are increased by onehalf in the case of classes in remote centres. An additional 3d. an hour up to £5 a year is paid in the case of students holding free places. Of the above groups classes of the (a) group continue to be the most numerous and the most widely distributed. Most of the classes in the smaller centres belong to this group. Classes belonging to the (6) group, though held at a comparatively small number of centres (nineteen), constitute most of the largest and best-equipped schools in the Dominion. Classes of the (c) group are held at four centres, and include some classes not of university rank. The number of individual students in attendance during the year shows an increase of nearly 10 per cent., which, in view of the disturbing influences arising out war, must be regarded as very satisfactory.

Description of Class. Number of Classes. Number o: Students. (a) Conducted by Education or High School Boards (6) Conducted by Technical School Boards or by Managers (c) Conducted by University Colleges 1914. 1915. 940 1,016 621 636 170 165 1,731 | 1,817 1914. 8,942 6,651 1,009 1915, 10,616 6,855 776 Totals 16,602 18,247