E.—lA

8

clerkships to constructive work. They would thus be led away from those " blind alley " occupations which constantly recruit of the future unemployed and unemployable. Not only would such modernized courses as are here suggested help to remove the undeserved stigma often placed upon manual labour, but they would enable our schools to meet the universal demand, " Wanted, an intelligent boy." The returns for 1915 show that of 423 secondary-school science classes receiving, manual grants, 237 classes were for science of an academic type, very little connected with practical life. Of those 423 manual classes only 70 were related to domestic training. In technical high schools, only 167 per cent, of the girls in attendance (over 900) took the domestic course. Of 18,247 non-technical high-school students attending technical classes 12,069 were following domestic, professional, or clerical pursuits or were students ; that is, about 66 per cent, were not connected with any trade or industry. In technical high schools, out of 1,955 pupils, 1,021, or over 50 per cent., took commercial and general subjects, while only 490, or about 25 per cent., took industrial courses. As stated above, it is not desirable to make technical high schools anything but generally vocational, but the above figures show that much clearer definition of aim is required. In many of the technical and art classes, apart from the organized technical classes, the work simply provides for the teaching of accomplishments which, under present conditions, we cannot afford to pay for. Arrangements have been made for special opportunities being provided for returned soldiers to receive technical instruction in cases where a change of work has been, rendered necessary. In addition, the training colleges are arranging to receive discharged soldiers who have sufficient education, and to give them the necessary training to take up the work of teaching. Our Girls. However we may recognize the need for training girls to fill such positions as that of teacher, clerk, dressmaker, assistant, or factory girl, we know that in the great majority of cases such occupations are merely temporary, and that nearly all of the girls soon become wives and mothers. This must be so if our nation is to stand in its present high position, which is due in the greatest measure to the influence of devoted mothers in our British homes. Let us give our girls a good education, even a temporary occupation in the business or industrial*world,lbut let us act so that we and they may realize that not even the lawyer, doctor, statesman, or merchant has a calling so richly fruitful of all that is highest-and noblest in national life as the mother of a good home. To this end we must see that every girl, both in her secondary and primary education, shall have such training in domestic affairs as will render her great future work a source of interest and pleasure, and will enable her to meet its demands with the confidence and success that'a good training can give. The need of the State to secure the health and physical efficiency of our girls was never greater, more imperative, or more urgent than now, and we must see that they are given an all-round practical education. The vital worth of child-life to the well being 'of [the State is being revealed in. no uncertain manner by present circumstances. To save™ child-life is an. axiomf'of State preservation; to remedy defect is an axionTof State'economy. Medical and Dental Inspection. The work of medical inspection carried out during the past three years has more than justified the policy established. Serious handicaps, however, expecially in the way of shortage of staff, have been placed on this work during the war, but plans for fuller development have been made pending the return of favourable conditions. Special attention has lately been given, in accordance with my instruction, to the remedial or corrective"classes carried out by the medical inspectors and physical instructors. Reports now received show that many pupils |have'derived ;, substantial benefit from the corrective exercises thus given. In certain remote localities in the Dominion, owing to the pupils being beyond the reach of treatment by ordinary methods, it has been recognized as almost futile to diagnose defects without providing for remedial measures. I would like to