E. —2.

The following is a summary of the results of the Technological Examinations held in November, 1931 :— Cabinetmaking ; Intermediate —Six sat, five passed. Final: Five sat and five passed. Carpentry and Joinery: Preliminary —Eleven sat, six passed. Intermediate —Twentyfive sat, eight passed. Final—Six sat, two passed. Electrical Fitting : Intermediate—One sat, one passed. Final—Two sat, one passed. Electrical Wiring : Intermediate —One sat and failed. Final —One sat, one passed. Mechanical Engineering: Preliminary—Six sat, four passed. Intermediate —Eight sat, five passed. Final—Five sat and three passed. Motor Mechanics : Preliminary—Four sat, one passed. Intermediate —sixteen sat, eleven passed. Final—Seven sat, two passed. Plumbing: Preliminary —Eighteen sat, twelve passed. Intermediate —Sixteen sat, six passed. Final —One sat and failed. For the whole of the examinations, the results were as follows : Preliminary, 39 candidates sat and 23 passed ; intermediate, 73 candidates sat and 36 passed ; final, 27 candidates sat and 14 passed : the totals being, 143 sat for examination and 75 passed. These examinations are slowly gaining in popularity, but the numbers of entries are still very considerably less than should be expected in view of the number of students in the various courses in the technical schools. Staff Changes. Owing to the necessity for reduction in educational expenditure, the inspectorial service was reduced during the year to two Inspectors, Mr. F. C. Renyard, B.Sc., and Mr. G. V. Wild, B.Sc. (Ag.), 8.A., in addition to myself, and the technical branch suffered a severe loss through the retirement of the Inspector of Home Science, Miss M. Dyer, M.A., formerly of Girton College, Cambridge, and of Kings College, London. During her seven years of service as Inspector of Home Science Miss Dyer established high standards of work in all branches of the various courses in domestic arts and home science pursued in the different types of schools of the Dominion. Her influence with the individual teachers was strong and salutary. Her retirement on account of the urgent necessity for reducing the expenditure of administration was greatly regretted and the retention of her services was strongly urged by the teachers most concerned with the courses in domestic arts in both primary and post-primary schools, among whom her influence had steadily grown during her seven years of service. Another change in the staff of technical-school Inspectors was occasioned by the resignation of Mr. R. G. Ridling, who was appointed Principal of the Wellington Technical College, and took up his new duties at the beginning of the third term of 1931 in succession to Mr. J. H. Howell, who retired after some twelve years' service as Principal of the Wellington Technical School, and about the same period as Principal of the Christchurch Technical School. Mr. Ridling had served as Inspector of Technical Schools for nearly two years, and in that short time had done valuable work especially in connection with the teaching of agricultural subjects in post-primary schools, and the organization of the science and nature-study work of the primary schools. Mr. Ridling was succeeded by Mr. G. Y. Wild, recently lecturer in agriculture and nature-study at the Auckland Training College. I desire to express my deep appreciation of the loyalty and devotion to duty invariably displayed by the Inspectors of technical schools and the other officers concerned with technical instruction. The retirement of Mr. J. H. Howell from the principalship of the Wellington Technical School removes a notable figure from active participation in the administration of technical education in New Zealand. Both the Christchurch Technical School, which was established and developed by him during the years 1906-1918, and the Wellington Technical School over which he presided during the period of its establishment and development as a co-ordinated institution on its own site and in its own buildings on the Mount Cook Reserve, owe much to his able direction, keen vision, and utter devotion to the interests of the young people in his charge, and to the cause of the true and complete education of every individual in the State. On his retirement Mr. Howell carried with him the good wishes of all who knew him and his strenuous and successful work in the cause of education. It is with great regret that I record the death on the 31st August, 1931, of the late Lieut.-Colonel W. S. Austin, D.S.O. former Inspector of Schools, and for some twelve years Inspector of Manual and Technical Classes. Lieut.-Colonel Austin retired in 1930, after forty-four years of service, including four years and a half of war service during which he was four times wounded —the last time very seriously —rose to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, and was awarded the D.S.O. and Croix de Guerre. He was an equally loyal and efficient officer in the Education Service of the Dominion —just, fair, and conscientious in the performance of his inspectorial duties. I have, &c., The Director of Education. W. S. LaTrobe, Superintendent of Technical Education.

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