E.—l

15

Registered Private Primary Schools. The following table summarizes the returns furnished by registered private primary schools with respect to the year 1929 : —

The number of schools at the end of the previous year was 302 and the total enrolment 26,596. Consolidation of Schools. The activities in connection with school consolidation during the year have been mainly in the direction of the closing of isolated, small, schools and the conveyance of children to larger neighbouring schools. In many cases the replacement of worn-out buildings has thus been avoided. In still other instances the establishment of new schools in districts to which settlement is extending has been made unnecessary by conveying the children to existing schools where, in general, they will receive better tuition and, through being conveyed, will attend more regularly. In every case in which a scheme of consolidation has been suggested, the cost of the proposals has been carefully examined and compared with, that of maintenance under previously existing conditions, to ensure that the undoubted advantages of consolidation are not purchased at too great a price. There are over fifteen hundred sole-teacher schools in the Dominion, and it would be wasteful expenditure to embark upon an extensive consolidation programme that would involve the abandonment of good school buildings and the enlargement of other buildings, in addition to the cost of conveyance of children to other schools. A fact that is not generally recognized is that consolidation is not found to result in reduced expenditure, for, usually, the increased educational facilities obtained under consolidation are gained at some increase in cost. Correspondence School. The past year has been one of progressive development for the Correspondence School. In 1928 preliminary arrangements were made for the establishment of a secondary department, and in February, 1929, post-primary courses in English, mathematics, geography, history, agriculture, Latin, and book-keeping were made available. The children taking these courses comprise ex-primary pupils living in remote districts, whose only opportunity of obtaining a secondary education is by means of correspondence. It is intended to make a special feature of practical agriculture, and a qualified assistant has been recently appointed for this purpose. At the end of the year the roll of the primary department was 795, and of the secondary department 98. The staff consisted of the headmaster, fourteen assistant teachers, and five clerical assistants. The school was examined by both primary and secondary Inspectors, the reports indicating that very good work indeed is being done. Of the thirty-five pupils who sat for examination in Standard VI, thirty-four gained proficiency certificates.

Undenomi- | Catholic Other national ! Church Church Total. | Schools. Schools. Schools. Number of schools .. .. .. 42 208 52 302 Roll—Boys .. .. .. .. 861 10,472 1,165 12,498 Girls .. .. .. .. 864 11,654 1,961 14,479 Total .. .. .. 1,725 22,126 3,126 26,977 Average attendance .. .. .. 1,532-4 19,636-6 2,766-4 23,935-4 Teachers—Men .. .. . . .. 37 42 31 110 Women .. .. .. 77 665 125 867 Total .. .. .. 114 707 156 977