E.—l

28

In the majority of Native schools husband and wife both teach, drawing separate salaries and, in addition, house allowance if no residence is provided. It must be admitted, therefore, that whatever hardships may be involved in the work the remuneration is adequate. The total expenditure on salaries and allowances for the year ended 31st March, 1922, was £56,338, as compared with ,£53,712 in 1920-21 and £29,148 in 1.914. The staff is reported to be showing increased efficiency ; the proportion of certificated teachers is gradually increasing, and those still uncertificated, although they may be excellent teachers, are urged by the Inspectors to attempt to improve their status by passing the necessary examinations. Included in the staff there are now no less than thirty-eight young Maori women, Secondary Education and Free Places. The Government has not instituted any schools especially for the secondary education of Maoris, but a number of such schools having been established and being maintained, by the various denominational bodies, the Government secures free continued education for qualified Maori children by providing at these schools a number of scholarships or free places. The value of the free places is £30 per annum, and they are tenable for two years. The roll number of these schools (ten in number) at the end of 1921 was 488, of which number fifty boys and sixty-two girls held the free places referred to. One free place was also held at an ordinary secondary school. The great majority of the scholars were ex-pupils of Native schools. The syllabus of work to be followed by free-place holders is prescribed by the Department, and is designed to secure such industrial training as is considered desirable in the case of Maoris : the boys learn agriculture and woodwork, and the girls take a domestic course. A farm of 600 acres is being worked in conjunction with Te Aute College—one of the schools referred to. In some of the schools the more capable pupils are prepared for the Public Service Entrance Examination, a satisfactory number of candidates being successful at the last examination. The Makarini and Buller Scholarships were founded out of private bequests, and are tenable by Maori scholars at Te Aute College. One senior and one junior Makarini. Scholarship and one Buller Scholarship were awarded in 1921. Senior free places are provided for boys in the form of industrial and agricultural scholarships, which enable the holders to be apprenticed to suitable trades, or, under recently amended regulations, to obtain agricultural training at Te Aute College. Two scholarships of the latter type have been awarded to promising boys. Senior free places for girls take the form of nursing scholarships. These scholarships have proved very satisfactory, a number of Maori girls having qualified as nurses and now being at work in the field. At the end. of 1921 three scholarshipholders were in training. University scholarships are available for Maoris possessing the necessary qualifications, and two such scholarships were held at University colleges by Maori youths in 1921. Expenditure. The total- net expenditure on Native schools during the year ended the 31st March, 1922, was £77,650. The chief items of expenditure were teachers' salaries and allowances, £56,338 ; new buildings and additions, £7,072 ; maintenance of buildings, repairs, &c, £4,058 ; secondary education, £4,297 ; books and school requisites, £.1,546. SECONDARY EDUCATION. Number of Schools. (Table Xl in E.-8.) Schools affording education of a secondary nature are established in every centre of any importance in the Dominion, and are at present of the following types : Secondary schools, technical high schools, district high schools, private secondary schools, and Maori secondary schools. The majority of the district high schools are in the country centres, the secondary schools and technical high schools being in the larger towns and cities. There were thirty-five secondary schools in operation, including thirteen separate schools for boys, thirteen for girls, and nine for boys and girls. Two of the boys'