31

E.—l

The number of places at which recognized technical classes were held was .... .... .... .... .... 110 The number of recognized classes was .... .... .... 1,702 The total number of individual students was.... .... .... 14,137 The average attendance at all classes was .... .... .... 23,070 The capitation on attendances was.... .... .... > ....£18,497 12s. Bd. The rate of capitation per unit of average attendance was .... 16s. 0-4 d. The classes were divided as follows : — Number of Centres. Number of Classes. Average Attendance. Glasses. 1908. 1909. 1908. 1909. 1908. 1909. " Special" classes ... 98 89 854 858 11,016 10,287 " Associated" classes ... 23 26 520 712 9,002 11,250 " College" classes ... 1 1 131 132 1,500 1,533 Totals... ... 122 116 1,505 1,702 21,518 23,070 L_ It will be noticed that " special" classes, as last year, were the most numerous and the most widely distributed. The number of "associated" classes and the number of centres at which they are held have increased. These classes had an average attendance of 15-8 per class, as against 12 in the case of " special" classes. The increase (192) in the number of " associated " classes may be regarded as an index of the continued interest taken in technical instruction by local bodies, industrial associations, and other similar organizations. "College" classes were conducted by one only, as heretofore, of the University colleges— namely, Canterbury College, Christchurch. There are, however, indications that certain classes conducted by one or more of the other colleges will shortly be brought under the regulations. The receipts by controlling authorities and by managers of " special " and "associated" classes respectively were by way of (1) capitation, £26,071; (2) voluntary contributions, and subsidies thereon, £11,468; (3) fees, t'8,510: making a total of £46,049 from these sources. The expenditure by these bodies on (1) administration, &c, was £7,025, and on (2) salaries of instructors was £28,580; making a total of £35,605. The same bodies received £17,882 in grants for buildings and equipment, and expended thereon £25,314. TABLE ll.—Average Attendance at and Capitation on Classes for certain Subjects. 1908. 190.). Subjects of Instruction. AtfenlTe. °*«*«- Attendee. £ s. d. fc s. d. Engineering ... ... ... 1,658 1,425 8 9 1,592 1,984 0 9 Lead and wood working ... ... 1,897 1,810 9 7 1,586 1,430 0 6 Pure and applied art ... ... 4,355 4,494 1C 7 4,513 4,957 19 1 Experimental and natural science ... 2,079 1,174 3 4 2,234 1,014 7 5 Domestic economy ... ... ... 3,278 2,563 13 8 3,417 3,059 19 7 Commercial subjects 5,549 4,198 5 6 5,867 4,884 2 11 Subjects of general education ... 2,601 1,844 11 2 2,979 771 6 6 Agriculture, wool-classing, &c. ... 101 89 15 0 882 395 15 11 Totals... ... ... 21,518 17,601 2 7 23,070 18,497 12 8 Though there has been a slight falling-off in the attendance at classes for engineering and for lead and wood working, the classes in these subjects are