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Two committees of the University Entrance Board have prepared prescriptions for this new examination in the list of subjects approved by the Senate, and their recommendations will be considered by the Entrance Board and by the Academic Board this year for final approval by the Senate in January, 1943. The whole plan, if approved, will come into operation in 1943 or 1944, as the Senate may decide. The main question still to be determined relates to the subjects which are to be regarded as compulsory prerequisites for the different University courses. The Academic Board has proposed English and two other subjects, and the matter has been referred to the Professorial Boards for report to the Entrance and Academic Boards and for the final decision of the Senate in January, 1943. A satisfactory decision on this question is vital. If the prerequisites for the different University courses are left as at present, schools will gain little from accrediting, for those pupils likely to be accredited will not be a large proportion of the total and will be the only pupils likely to gain any freedom from the change. If the " two other subjects "do not bear some definite relation to the University course to be followed, the University will probably be less satisfied with the standard of students coming on to it than it is at present. A decision enabling schools to eliminate the compulsory foreign language from the course of those pupils (engineering, architectural, agricultural, home science, and the like) for whom, at the University stage, a foreign language is not really necessary would enable schools to broaden courses by the introduction of general science in place of the present specialized sciences, of more social science, and of more of the purely cultural subjects. I feel confident that the secondary schools, given the opportunity, will play their part. Changes in Regulations. —A number of important amendments to the secondary regulations were approved during the year, but were not actually gazetted until the year had ended. Undoubtedly the introduction of a substantial library capitation gave the greatest satisfaction to the schools. All secondary schools built during recent years have included a room for the school library, and many schools have, through their own efforts, built up excellent collections of books. The capitation now payable amounts to £10 per school, together with Is. 9d. per head of the roll number on Ist March, and should do much to put all school libraries on a very satisfactory footing. The War. —The continuance of the second Great World War caused a disruption of the staffs of many secondary schools to a far greater degree than did its predecessor at a corresponding stage. During 1941 fifty-one teachers were serving overseas, whether in Navy, Army, or Air Force. Of these, Major W. H. Evans, senior assistant of the Rotorua High School, and Major T. Fyfe, senior mathematical master at Gore High School, were killed in action. Their deaths are a severe loss to the whole secondary service. Another sixty-one were serving in New Zealand in the Army or Air Force. This represents a total during 1941 of over 25 per cent, of the male secondary teachers on some form of military service. Already this year the total number has been much increased. Many secondary teachers, several of them veterans of the last war, have done invaluable work with the National Military Reserve, the Home Guard, with the E.P.S. organizations, or with the pre-entry training of men selected for the Air Force. Altogether it is a record of service of which the secondary schools may justly be proud. I have, in conclusion, to thank my colleagues for their valuable assistance and loyal co-operation throughout the year. EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF TECHNICAL SCHOOLS (MB. F. C. RENYARD) FOR THE YEAR 1941. During the year the impact of the war made itself more strongly felt than in previous years in all activities administered by the Technical Branch of the Department. The adverse effects noted were chiefly as follows : A progressive fall in the rolls of both day and evening schools, the calling-up of experienced teachcrs and their replacement by junior teachers or by teachers (mainly women) re-entering the service, a shortage of materials of certain kinds, and a dearth of equipment needed for expansion of services and replacements. On the whole, however, essential services were well maintained, and the system of administration has proved sufficiently elastic to take the strain and to permit almost all work to be carried on with perhaps some diminution in volume but with almost equal effectiveness. Direct War Work. —Some details of direct war work undertaken by technical schools have already been given in the report of the Hon. Minister. Another scheme, not directly war work, which has begun to take shape is that for the provision of kindergarten toys and teaching aids for infant classes, the ordinary sources of supply having become unavailable. With the approval of their employing Boards, teachers in manual-training centres have been invited to assist in this project, and it is confidently expected that a good volume and range of apparatus will in this way become available in the future. Notable Additions to Science Buildings and Equipment completed during the Year. —Owing to prevailing conditions no building projects of any considerable size have been undertaken during the year. Some additions and renovations, however, have been made, notably at the Auckland, Wanganui, and Hawera Technical Schools. At Palmerston North, 13 acres of land in Rangitikei Street have been set apart as a site for a future technical-school building, as it is realized that the present site is much too restricted and does not allow of the necessary future expansion. Conference on Training of Workers in the Electrical Industry. —In November last an important conference was convened in Wellington by the Hon. the Minister of Labour to consider the educational standard of entrance of workers in the electrical trades, and particularly the poor results regularly obtained at the examinations held by the Wiremen's Registration. Board, and to suggest remedial measures. The conference was a very representative one, and included members not only of the Departments concerned, but also of organizations of employers and employees. After long discussion, a report was sent forward which is perhaps the most enlightened and advanced document that has yet been compiled in New Zealand by a fully representative body for the regulation and better training of apprentices. Not only did the report lay down minimum educational requirements and continued compulsory education for apprentices, but it also agreed to the principle of day training for apprentices during ordinary working-hours. It was also clear from the discussions that, although the needs of the electrical trade were recognized as being the most urgent ones, similar provision should be made for other trades in the future,

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