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area. School Certificates will still be signed in Wellington, and all final approvals in connection witli accrediting will still be given in Wellington in order to ensure uniformity of standards. The above list of duties is tentative only and may be modified from time to time as circumstances warrant. (2) New Post-primary Schools Three new post-primary schools were established during the year, at Kaikohe, Northcote, and Te Awamutu, the respective district high schools being disestablished. The total number of post-primary schools is now 75. (3) Secondary Departments of District High Schools The establishment of 3 new district high schools in the Auckland district (Hukerenui, Te Kauwhata, and Titoki), of 1 in Taranaki (Waitara), and of 3 Maori district high schools (Rangitahi, Ruatoki, and Te Kaha) brought the total number of secondary departments to 107. Of these, 16 have rolls exceeding 150. All these schools are now being visited at least once annually by the Post-primary Inspectors, with a consequent very great increase in their duties. The grading of the teachers in these schools is now the concern of the post-primary inspectorate. —(4) Endowed Schools and Registered Private Post-primary Schools F:r During the year there was only 1 new registration of a private post-primary school, but 1 school which had been closed during,the war period reopened. The total (inclusive of the two endowed schools) is now" 82." (5) School Rolls XJ The following table gives the numbers enrolle/1 on Ist March for the pasty-five years in the various groups of schools. The numbers of schools in each year are shown in j^rentheses. 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 Solidary schools.. .. 16,218 (39) 18,573 (39) 20,042 (39) 20,225(40) 20,242 (40) Technical schools .. .. 10,799 (21) 12-380 (21) 14,295(23) 14,943 (25) 15,862 (28) Combined schools .. .. 3,276 (7) 3, 3,843 (7) 3,839 (7) 3,869 (7) Secondary departments of • > district high schools .. 6,320(98) 7,356 (101) 8,708(104) 8,375 (103) 8,329 (107) Registered private postprimary schools (including two endowed schools) .. 7,002(63) 7,978(67) 9,146 (75) 9,623(80) 10,163 (82) Totals .. ... 43,615 50,076 56,034 57,035 58,465 Increase over previous year.. .. 6,461 5,958 1,001 1,430 (6) Staffing of Post-primary Schools Although from time to time representations have been made by the teachers' associations for a further improvement in the staffing of post-primary schools, I have, while sympathetic, been very diffident about recommending any increase until such time as I am satisfied that the supply of post-primary teachers is really adequate. During'l94:7, teacher shortages continued and many Boards found it difficult to secure teachers for advertised positions, in particular in many of the district high schools. To quote one particular instance, the Auckland. Education Board at one stage advertised twelve special posts in the district high schools in the Auckland district. For only one of these was there an applicant with a Grade Y classification. lam satisfied that any improvement in the present staffing ratio would act to the disadvantage of schools rather than to their advantage until such time as there are sufficient post-primary teachers to fill all positions. The only effect would be to effect an improvement in the staffing of schools in favoured localities which already have little difficulty in securing teachers and to make the position of schools in less-favoured localities worse than at present.

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