B.—4a,

1128. In regard to Secondary School Boards the administrative cost per pupil is much higher. The total cost of administration of these Boards is £10,383, but allowance should be made in connection with the administration of endowments. Excluding expenditure on administration of endowments, the cost per pupil is approximately 10s. 9d. 1129. With regard to Technical School Boards the cost is again also high, and averages 12s. 9d. per pupil. 1130. We are of opinion that some of the causes of expensive administration under the Board system are : — 1131. (1) Large and highly paid staffs employed by various Boards. 1132. In 1915 the administrative and clerical officers employed by Boards numbered seventynine, while fourteen officers were engaged in connection with buildings, excluding clerks of works, foremen, and workmen. In 1930, notwithstanding the gradual reduction in the duties of Boards, the administrative and clerical officers had increased by 40 per centum and building staffs by 133 per centum. 1133. The average school attendance during the foregoing period had increased by only 21-5 per cent., so that the cost of administration has been out of proportion to the increase in school attendance, and has occurred notwithstanding substantial reductions in the duties of Boards. 1134. The following table gives a clear comparison between 1915 and 1930 for each district: —

1135. It should be stated here that the staff of the Department has also increased substantially during the same period, but this is largely due to the extension of its duties as follows : — (a) The amendment of the Education Act from time to time throwing greater responsibility on to the Department. (Ib) The extension of the system —for example, correspondence school, special classes, childwelfare extension, extension of manual and technical training, extension of training college activities, &c. 1136. We mention this because we do not wish it to be inferred that an increase in the administrative costs of the Boards has not been paralleled by an increase in the administrative cost of the Department, but for the latter the reason is easily understood, while it is difficult to account for the increase in the administrative costs of the Boards when their responsibilities and powers have been substantially decreased. 1137. As an instance of the comparatively high salaries paid by Boards, we mention that the Secretary to the Department and the departmental Architect each receive £715 per annum, now less statutory reductions. That the salaries of officers of Boards are high in comparison is clear from the following statement: —

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Administration: Clerical Staff.* Number of Schools. 1915. | 1930. | 1915 . j 1930 . j PerCent. Auckland .. .. 11 27 145-5 645 779 20-8 Taranaki .. .. 5 9 80-0 103 170 65-0 Wanganui .. .. 10 12 20-0 216 218 0-9 Hawke'sBay .. 6 10 66-7 174 198 13-8 Wellington".. .. 10 18 80-0 245 262 6-9 Nelson .. .. 4 6 50-0 128 137 7-0 Canterbury.. .. 19f 15 -21-1 384 390 1-6 Otago .. .. 8 11 37-5 257 251 -2-3 Southland .. .. 6 9 50-0 186 188 1-1 * Including storemen, attendance officers. f Includes the staffs of the old North Canterbury, South Canterbury, Westland and Grey districts. Note the decrease in staff due to centralization—that is, by the amalgamation of districts.

Salaries in 1930. I • • Number of Schools. Secretary. Architect. £ £ Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 800 775 779 Taranaki .. .. . ► .. .. 600 600 170 Wanganui .. .. .. .. .. 665 625 218 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. .. 725 715 198 "Wellington .. .. .. . . .. 800 575 262 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. 700 500 137 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 725 675 390 Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. 650 600 251 Southland .. .. .. .. .. 525 495 188