8.—5

14

a youth who has completed a two-years course in engineering at a technical school should at once become directly useful and more remunerative to his employer than the lad who has not had this training. I#hs suggested that, if employers cannot see their way at present to allow the time spent at a technical school to count as part of the apprenticeship period, they might at least adopt the principle of giving preference, "when apprentices are taken on, to those who are able to produce evidence of having satis--factorily completed an approved course at a technical school. The character and quality of the instruction is such that when a youth who has been through the course provided takes his place at the vice or at the machine he has nothing to unlearn. If employers generally, or their representatives, could see their way to pay periodical visits to the schools with the view not only of becoming acquainted with what was being done, but also of making suggestions, the results would, we feel sure, be mutually beneficial. We are glad in this connection to be able to report that in some of the larger centres a very live interest is being taken in the work of the schools by industrial associations and organizations representing specific trades and industries. The facilities provided for practical work and the prominence given to it have not resulted in any sacrifice as regards instruction in principles which forms so important a part of an engineer's training. Adequate provision is in most cases made for instruction in mathematics, theoretical and applied mechanics, geometry and drawing. A good deal of attention is being given in the larger schools to electrical engineering. Though the facilities for practical as distinguished from experimental work are not so complete as for mechanical engineering, the importance of the practical application of principles has not been overlooked, and a good deal of useful work has been accomplished within the limits prescribed by existing conditions. The increased attendance at classes for subjects of general education, more pronounced in some districts than in others, indicates that these classes are meeting a real need. It is to be hoped that the near future will witness a further increase not only in the attendance but also in the number of centres at which these useful classes are held. The larger schools are now fairly well organized, so that it should be possible for some attention to be given to the establishment of branch classes in localities adjacent to the central school. It is thought that more use could be made than is at present the case of publicschool buildings for evening continuation classes. In this connection it is gratifying to note that a movement in this direction has already been made in one or two districts with encouraging results. In a number of centres evening classes for pupils who have left the primary schools without certificates of proficiency, and who are therefore unable to avail themselves of the benefits of the free-place system, have been established and are largely taken advantage of by young people anxious to obtain the certificate which will admit them to the technical school without payment of fee. In all probability regulations under the Education Amendment Act of 1910 requiring the attendance at continuation or technical classes of young persons who are not otherwise receiving a suitable education will be put into operation in one or more education districts during the current year (1912). In view of the exemptions provided it is not anticipated that the enforcement of the regulations in question will entail any undue hardship. Judging from the inquiries that have been made in some districts, the number of young people to whom the regulations will apply is not likely to be very large. In any case the result of the first year's working of the regulations will be awaited with interest. M. H. Browne, j Inspectors of Technical E. C. Isaac, j Instruction. The Inspector-General of Schools, Wellington.