E.—l

16

Three out of the four training colleges had during the year 1909 nearly their full complement of students. At the fourth the number in attendance was still less than half the number for whom provision was made ; but steps have now been taken to bring it on a level with its fellows in this respect, and the returns for the current year will in consequence show a notable increase, no less than eighty-two students being now reported as admitted thereat at the beginning of 1910. To secure this increase, however, a sacrifice has had to be made in respect, of the length of the period of training, a number of ex pupil-teachers being admitted for one year only. Consequently, the condition of things is not yet quite satisfactory at the training college in question ; that so marked an increase should be secured only by the relaxation of the conditions of training is a matter to be regretted, and it is to be hoped that the expedient will be only a temporary one. There seems still to be a danger that some of the students may subordinate their legitimate training as teachers to the object of taking a university degree. It does not seem expedient, in the. interests of the efficiency of the teaching profession in the Dominion, to shorten the regular two-years course of training, except in the case of those who have already graduated in the University, and who may therefore be considered as requiring only professional training in the colleges. For them one year would probably be sufficient. There is, of course. no desire to cut off any suitable students from the pursuit of a university course ; but, after all, the training colleges exist to train teachers for their professional work, and it is not desirable to confuse the aims of a training college with those of a university college. At the close of the years 1908, 1909, the students in training numbered 274 and 319 respectively, as follows : — 1908. , . 1909. , Men. Women. Total. Men. Women. Total. Auckland ... ... ... 23 25 48 20 25 45 Wellington ... ... ... 14 64 78 21 70 91 Christchurch ... ... ... 13 59 72 19 70 89 Dunedin ... ... ... 21 55 76 24 70 94 Total ... ... 71 203 274 84 235 319 The amounts paid to Education Boards in 1908 and 1909 for the training of teachers were as follows :— I. Training colleges,— 19ft8 1909 Salaries of staffs (half charged to public-school £ £ £ £ salaries) ... ... ... ... 5,925 6,283 Students'allowances ... ... ... 10,666 13,210 University fees of students ... ... 2,276 2,776 Libraries ... ... ... 188 92 Apparatus ... ... ... ... 26 40 Buildings ... ... ... ... 13,565 5,691 32,646 28,092 11. Other training,— Grants for special instruction in handwork, including agriculture, of teachers other than training-college students ... ... 2,900 2,340 Railway fares of teachers and instructors ... 5,422 5,020 8,322 7,360 Totals ... ... ... £40,968 £35,452 Public-school Cadets. The Cadets, hitherto known as the " New Zealand Public-school Cadets," have by the coming into force of the Defence Act, 1909, become part of the " Junior Cadets," which include all boys who have resided in New Zealand for six months and are British subjects, from twelve to fourteen years of age or to the date of leaving school, whichever is the later. This includes all private schools, and all boys who are not attending any school until they are fourteen years of age.