E.—6

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Extract from the Report of the Controlling Authority of the Palmerston North Technical School. During the past year the school has made substantial progress not only in number, but in general efficiency. Although several members of the staff have enlisted for active service, the Board has been very fortunate in obtaining well-qualified instructors to fill their places. The number of classes held during the year was sixty-two. The number of individual students in the classes averaged approximately an attendance of from a thousand to twelve hundred. The financial position of the school is very satisfactory indeed, and the thanks of the Board are due to the Borough Council. Kairanga County Council, Working-men's Clubs, Farmers' Union, Defence Executive, and the Workers' Education Association for donations received from them during the year. New classes in home nursing were started and run most successfully. Thirtyone candidates sat for the St. John Ambulance Society's nursing certificate, and twenty-eight were successful. A class in industrial economics was also started for the workers, and good work was done. Seventeen junior-free-place students were recommended for senior free places, and all were granted by the Education Department. The staff has worked well, and been punctual and regular in attendance. A miniature rifle range was installed to give the cadets greater efficiency in shooting. The dressmaking and commercial departments are easily the largest in the school, followed by the art and engineering. T. R. Hodder, Chairman. Extract from the Deport of the Director of the Palmerston North Technical School. Although various members of the staff have gone to the front substitutes have been obtained, and the work of the school has gone on smoothly and well. So far it has not been necessary to bring in the compulsory clause regarding attendance at technical schools owing to the fact that at least 95 per cent, of those leaving primary schools and not attending high schools take up technical classes. It is hoped that this state of affairs will continue, as the tone and discipline of the school is so much more satisfactory when working without compulsion. No less than sixty-three of the present and past students, including instructors, have enlisted for the defence of King and country, of whom nine have made the supreme sacrifice. The classes for this year were atended by 673 pupils, of whom 184 were free places and 489 paying students. The total number of enrolments was 1,320. The majority of the students took grouped courses, and attended well enough to earn the higher capitation paid for such courses. The chief courses in operation were the commercial, science and mathematics, trades, domestic, agricultural, and arts and crafts. The commercial classes still attract large numbers, there being seven classes in shorthand, two in book-keeping, and five in typewriting. Most of the work done in the science and mathematics classes covered the ground for the Public Service Entrance Examinations, and were attended chiefly by boys working in various Government Departments. Considerable interest was shown in the work, and the results on the whole at the examinations were very good. The trade classes were this year the smallest in the school, owing to the war, which has taken practically all the plumbers and woodworkers. Very satisfactory work, however, has been done in the engineering classes, which have been well attended on the whole. The dressmaking, millinery, and cooking classes have been very well attended, especially the dressmaking, which continues to be the largest department in the school, there being an average of eleven classes per week, with an aggregate attendance of between 160 and 170 students. The agricultural classes have fallen off, no doubt owing to the necessity for keeping the boys at home to take the places of the elder brothers who have gone from the farms. In connection with this department we are considerably indebted to the Agricultural Experimental Association of Manawatu for valuable assistance in the matter of providing plots, seeds, and manures for experimental purposes. The Standard VI proficiency class still continues to fill a most useful place among the classes of the school, and has been the means of many men getting promotion in Government positions in the Postal and Railway Departments. A course in home nursing was taken this year for the first time with great success, there being no less than seventy-five students in the classes. At the end of the period thirty-one students entered for the St. John Nursing examination and twenty-eight passed with credit. It is proposed next year to include this class in the domestic course. The arts and crafts classes have been much better attended this year than during 1915. A small class in engraving on metal has been started, and has been attended by apprentices from the watchmaking and jewellery firms of the town. One of the emploj?ers kindly provided the silver necessary for the work. The life class and modelling classes have been very good, and some excellent work has been turned out—in fact, much good work has been done throughout this department. The Board is again indebted to the Borough Council, Kairanga County Council, Workingmen's Club, and the Farmers' Union executive for valuable assistance in the way of donations to the funds of the school. I have to express my appreciation of the whole-hearted support of the staff at all times in the interests of the school, and to the Board for the kind consideration given to all recommendations from myself. F. D. Opie, Director.