E.—l

40

The trouble of not having mastered the language thoroughly in the lower classes becomes a severe handicap to the Maori in the upper classes, making nearly all the subjects of the curriculum much more difficult for him than they would otherwise be. The result is that only a small proportion of the Maori scholars beginning in the preparatory classes in public schools reach the upper standards or do work there equal to that of the Europeans. From results obtained in Native schools it appears that the fault does not lie in lack of intelligence on the part of the Maori pupils, but in the unsuitable methods of the earlier teaching. Irregular attendance, nomadic habits, and want of class-books are also mentioned as factors tending to hinder their progress, the general opinion being that under uniformly favourable conditions the Maori would become a credit to the education system in public schools as he has already done in Native schools. Secondary Education and Free Places. Continuative education for Maori boys and girls is provided at ten institutions established by various denominational authorities. The Government subsidizes these institutions by providing a number of free places, each of the value of £20 and tenable for two years, to all Maori pupils who have qualified in terms of the regulations. There were 457 pupils on the rolls of these schools at the end of 1916, of which number forty-three boys and fifty-eight girls held free places. The standard of the Public Service Entrance Examination represents the limit of the curriculum of the schools, several pupils who entered for the examination being successful in passing. Attention is given more especially, however, to the industrial and domestic branches of education, the aim being to equip the Maori children for the work in life for which they are best suited. Two Makarini and one Buller Scholarship were awarded to Native scholars at the end of the year. Senior free places are provided for boys in the form of industrial scholarships, which, enable the holders to be apprenticed to suitable trades. These scholarships have not of late been eagerly sought after, the boys finding that they can secure higher wages in other ways, and no scholarships were held in 1916. Senior free places for girls take the form of nursing-scholarships. Four girls are training, or about to begin their training, as nurses in public hospitals under this scheme. Staffs and Salaries. The staffs of Native village schools in December, 1916, included 79 male and 37 female head or sole teachers and 131 assistants. The average salary of male head or sole teachers was £196 7s. 6d., of female head or sole teachers £154 7s. 6d., and of both combined £182 19s. 7d. These figures show an advance on the average salaries for the previous year, which were £189 16s. 2d., £150 15s. 2d., and £179 lis. respectively. The average salary of the 123 female assistants was £80 2s. Id., and of the eight male assistants £65 12s. 6d. The total expenditure on Native-school teachers' salaries and allowances for the year ending 31st March, 1917, was £32,334, the corresponding figure for the previous year being £31,019. In common with other public servants Native-school teachers were paid a war bonus in addition to their usual salaries, amounting to £15 in the case of married persons and £7 10s. in the case of those unmarried. Expenditure. Reference to Table H8 in E.-3 will show that the total net expenditure on Native schools during the year ended the 31st March, 1917, was £41,792. The chief items of expenditure are teachers' salaries and allowances, £32,334; new buildings and additions, £2,687; maintenance of buildings, repairs, &c, £1,294; secondary education, £2,465; books and school requisites, £1,076. Chatham Islands Schools. The schools in the Chatham Islands have now been placed under the control of the Canterbury Education Board, the statistics relating to them being included in the figures for the Canterbury District.