E.-l

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(3.) For entrance to technical classes other than technical high schools the means of qualification named in (1) or (2), or, under special conditions applicable to industrial courses only, a recommendation by the Inspector of Schools if a pupil is over fourteen years and has been in regular attendance at a public school up to a date not more than six months prior to the date of admission, to the technical classes. Senior free places are tenable at secondary schools, district high schools, and technical high schools up to the age of nineteen, and at technical classes other than technical high, schools for three or in some cases four years. The means of qualification for'senior free places are the Intermediate or other equivalent examinations, or the recommendation of the Principal or Director of the school or classes attended based on the school records and examination results, or the recommendation of an Inspector of secondary schools, or, in the case of district high schools, of the senior Inspector of the district, or in. part on such a recommendation and in part on the results of a special examination. The provision for qualification for senior free places on the recommendation of the Principals of secondary schools is becoming increasingly applicable, the number receiving senior free places in this manner in 1919 being 1,793 ; the number represents about two thirds of the total number of senior free places awarded. In addition two pupils were granted partial exemption from examination, being required to submit to a test in English or arithmetic only. The following are some of the figures for 1918 and 1919 in regard to free places in secondary schools : — 1918. 1919. Number of secondary schools giving free tuition . . 32 32 Roll number of these schools .. .. .. 7,871 8,536 Number of free-place holders at end of year .. 6,966 7,657 Average number of free-place holders during year .. 7,177 8,006 Free-place holders as a percentage of roll number . . 91 per cent. 94 per cent. Total annual payment by Government for free places £85,422 £111,062 In order to arrive at the total number of pupils in New Zealand receiving free secondary instruction, it will be necessary, however, to include also 104 holders of scholarships or exhibitions carrying free instruction not otherwise enumerated, which are granted by the secondary schools included above or by endowed secondary schools not coming under the conditions for free places, 2,015 free-place holders at district high schools, 90 Maori pupils receiving free education in Maori secondary schools, and 2,754 holders of free places in technical high schools. Consequently, there were approximately 12,620 pupils receiving free secondary education in the Dominion, exclusive of those holders of free places in technical schools (mostly evening students), who, while not taking full-day courses, were nevertheless receiving free educaton of secondary grade. The following table gives a summary of the various secondary free places in 1918 and 1919 for which payment was made by the Government: — Free Places in December, 1918 and 1919. (i.) Secondary schools — , 1918. , , 1919. , Boys. Girls. Total. Boys. Girls. Total, (a.) Junior free pupils .. 2,503 2,405 4,908 2,793 2.573 5,366 (b.) Senior free pupils .. 1,081 977 2,058 1,187 1,104 2,291 Totals .. .. 3,584 3,382 6,966 3,980 3,677 7,657 (ii.) District high schools — (a.) Junior free pupils .. 876 977 1,853 849 859 1,708 (b.) Senior free pupils .. 103 167 270 116 191 307 Totals .. .. 979 1,144 2,123 965 1,050 2,015 (iii.) Maori secondary sohools .. 45 58 103 42 48 90 (iv.) Technical high schools .. 1,162 1,342 2,504 1,351 1,403 2,754 Grand totals .. 5,770 5,926 11,696 6,338 6,178 12,516