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situation was partially met by the Department agreeing to award Higher Leaving Certificates to candidates called up for military service who had been in attendance at school for at least half the school year and whose standard of work was considered satisfactory. Many University Entrance candidates, however, were called up throughout the year. The situation of these boys was obviously a most difficult one, as few of them will ' feel inclined to take up study again for this examination when they are released from military service. Partial relief was obtained by the National Service Department agreeing to recommend to Appeal Boards that University Entrance candidates who were called up in No. 17 ballot and were thus still at school in September, 1942, should not be called up for military service until Ist January, 1943. These lads were thus given the opportunity of completing their year's work and of sitting for the University Entrance Examination at the end of it. Already in 1942 suggestions were being made to the Rehabilitation Board in regard to the provision of educational facilities for discharged servicemen, and at the time of writing there had been drawn up and put into operation a comprehensive scheme in which all classes of educational establishments, including University colleges and private correspondence schools, had a part. This question belongs, however, rather to 1943 than to 1942. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION (Mr. F. C. RENYARD) FOR THE YEAR 1942 School Rolls and Staffing.—There was a considerable fall in day-school rolls throughout the country due largely to abnormal withdrawals before the completion of course owing to prevailing industrial conditions. The fall in rolls almost exactly compensated for loss of teachers entering the Armed Forces, and thus was prevented what might have been an embarrassing over-staffing situation. Rolls have fallen still more in evening schools, the drop being as much as 50 per cent, in certain schools. The chief causes are the withdrawal of men for the Armed Forces, overtime, difficulties of transport, and reluctance of women and girls to attend evening school under restricted lighting-conditions. Examinations.—lt was decided to abandon both the City and Guilds of London Examinations usually held by the Department, and the N.Z. Technological Examinations for the duration of the war. In the case of the London City and Guilds Examinations the chief consideration was the difficulty of ensuring safe and prompt delivery from overseas of the question papers and of the examinees' work and scripts, A suggestion that the papers should be marked in New Zealand and provisional awards made was not agreed to by the London City and Guilds Institute, The Technological Examinations system was abandoned because of the few candidates offering and of the general difficulties ot holding examinations for the most part in practical subjects in present war conditions. It is hoped to reinstate the examination systems in an improved form as soon as circumstances perm it. Direct War Activities.—Classes in connection with the Air Training Corps have been established and actively carried on at many technical schools, and the results obtained have been satisfactory. The training of auxiliary workers for the engineering trades was carried on at two technical schools during the year, but it has become evident that the source of supply of trainees lias almost completely dried up, and the classes will in future be conducted in connection with schemes for rehabilitation. A class for training women for light mechanical operations in connection wth gauge and tool making at the Physical Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research was held at a technical school during the third term; the results, however, were not conclusive. A refresher course in mechanical engineering for Army personnel was held at the Palmerston North Technical School during the summer vacation. This proved a highly satisfactory venture and received the commendation of the Army Department. During the year, and at the request of the Air Department, a large number of scale model aeroplanes—both of Allied and enemy machines—were constructed at technical schools. This proved to be a difficult and most exacting task, but it was performed with enthusiasm by both teachers and pupils, and already many hundreds of planes have been delivered to the Air Department. Considerable sums of money for patriotic purposes have been raised by the schools, and many contributions in kind of knitted wear and comforts for fighting men have been made. All schools keep in touch with their old boys in the Services as far as possible, and in most cases parcels are regularly sent. Sites and Buildings.—ln August last a disastrous fire in the Southland Technical School did considerable damage to both buildings and equipment in the woodwork and engineering workshops. Energetic measures were taken to restore the damage and to recondition the plant, and the shops are now in use again. In Auckland additional land was purchased on the eastern side of St. Paul's. Street opposite the technical school workshops. At present it is being partly used as a muchneeded breathing-space for the pupils, but ultimately it will form part of a considered scheme of development for school activities.

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