39

E.—l

were attending continuation and technical classes held under the regulations for compulsory attendance. Voluntary contributions in money to the funds of technical schools and classes amounted to £2,975, and subsidies were paid during the year 1919 to the amount of £4,640. The subsidies paid included limited subsidies on account of gifts of land made by local effort during the year, as well as amounts paid on account of contributions received by the controlling authorities during the previous year. Although voluntary contributions in money amount to less than 4 per cent, of the total income of the schools, they indicate a healthy general interest in technical education, and the amount would be considerably increased if the cost of land provided locally for technical school purposes were included. Classes other than Glasses at Technical High Schools. Classes were held at 110 centres. In the previous year the number of centres was 131, and the drop in number is accounted for by the discontinuance of farmers' classes in the Taranaki District held at a large number of centres, but each course occupying a very short period in the year. The number of classes and the number of individual students were as follows :—

The following are some particulars of the age, sex, and occupations of students : —

Summary of Occupations of STUDENTS. Number of Percentage of Students. Totals. Clerical pursuits .. .. .. .. .. 1.911 1065 Professional pursuits .. .. .. .. .. 2,754 1534 Students .. .. .. ..3,548 19-76 Domestic pursuits .. .. .. .. ... 2.911 16-22 Agricultural pursuits .. .. . . . . 753 4 - 20 Various trades and industries .. .. .. .. 5,071 28 - 25 Other occupations not stated .. .. .. 1,002 5 - 58 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 17,950 100-0 Number of Classes in certain Subjects of Technical Instruction held in 1918 and 1919. 1918. 1919. Arts and artcrafts . . . . . . . . 235 232 Mechanical and electrical engineering, theoretical and practical 220 238 Building-construction, carpentry, and plumbing, and other trades 204 201 Experimental and natural science, mathematics, &c. .. .. 135 1.20 Agriculture, wool-sorting, dairy-work, &c. . . . . . . 98 95 Domestic subjects .. .. .. .. . . 367 371 Commercial subjects .. . . . . .. . . 369 380 Subjects of general education . . . . .. . . 337 377 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 1,965 2,014

Number of Classes Number of Students. Description of Class. 1918. 1919. I 1918. 1919. Conducted by Education or High School Boards Conducted by Technical School Boards or by Managers . . Conducted by University Colleges 1,111 672 182 959 879 176 9,176 6,919 785 8,232 8,664 1,054 Totals .. .. .. .. | 1,965 2,014 16,910 17,950

Seventeen Years of Age and under. Over Seventeen Years of Age. Totals. 1918. 1919. 1918. 1919. 1918. .1919. Males .. Females 4,657 4,009 4,984 4,074 3,573 4,671 4,305 4,587 8,230 8,680 9,289 8,661 Totals .. 8,666 9,058 8,244 8,892 16,910 17,950 I ,