5

E.—s

At twenty-two centres returned soldiers, to the total number of 167, were admitted to free education under the regulations issued in 1916 for the free tuition of accredited discharged soldiers. In some cases where all the facilities were not available at the technical schools to enable soldiers to carry out practical work in the subjects chosen, by them arrangements w T ere made by the school authorities with local firms for the use of workshops and equipment. The following technical schools had roll numbers of more than five hundred exclusive of the technical high schools carried on in connection with some of them :— School. 801 l Number. 1916. 1917. Christchurch Technical School .. .. .. ..1,225 1,267 Wellington Technical School .. .. .. ..1,207 1,256 Auckland Technical School .. .. .. ..1,329 1,211 Dunedin Technical School .. .. .. .. 1,204 1,105 Palmerston North Technical School .. . . .. 673 660 Wanganui Technical School .. .. .. .. 814 654 Invercargill Technical School .. .. .. .. 475 524 There is no doubt that the fall in attendance at some of these schools was due to the abnormal about by the war. Capitation earnings for the year totalled £33,749, compared with £34,771 for 1916. Included in the total is £9,924 earned on account of free pupils, pupils admitted under regulations for compulsory attendance at continuation classes, and returned soldiers. The rates of capitation vary from 2d. to Bd. for each hourattendance, according to the nature and standard of instruction. These rates are increased by one-half in the case of classes in remote centres. In addition to the ordinary rates of capitation, a payment of 3d. for each hour-attendance is made on account of free pupils, " compulsory " pupils, and returned soldiers. Payment is not made on account of any student for more than 400 hour-attendances a year, but this maximum is only reached by a small proportion of students. The technological examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute were conducted at fourteen centres in the Dominion. The total number of entries was 297, and the number of passes 181. On the result of the examinations silver medals were awarded by the Institute to one candidate at Wellington for examination in the subject of telegraphy (final), and to two candidates at Christchurch for gasfitting (final), and plain cookery respectively. A bronze medal was awarded to one candidate at Christchurch for examination in plain cookery. Two candidates —one at Christchurch and one at Dunedin, reached the standard required for a prize in the subjects of cabinetmaking (final) and dressmaking respectively, but by reason of their being engaged in teaching were not qualified to receive the award. Technical High Schools. There are eight of these schools of secondary grade which, while giving attention to the subjects of general education, provide a training of a vocational character. They are under the same management as the technical schools of which they form part. The number of students in attendance during the year was as follows :— Teohnioal High School. Number of Students. 1910. 1917. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 508 535 Wanganui .. . . . . .. . . .. 250 250 Napier .. .. .. .. .. .. m 127 Wellington . . .. .. .. . . .. 285 336 Westport .. . . .. .. .. . . 29 27 Christchurch .. . . . . ~ .. . , 37(; 453 Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. .. 315 339 Invercargill . . .. .. .. .. ~ 231 280 2,105 2,347 The enrolment of students for the year in the technical high schools, which shows an increase of about 11-5 per cent, on that for 1916, must be regarded as most satisfactory ; and, further, the fact that 2,347 pupils received a secondary education with a vocational trend appears to indicate that these schools are justifying their existence by providing a type of training suited to the industrial needs of the