11

E.—s

Southland District. The only school in the Southland District offering instruction in technical subjects was the Invercargill Technical School, which, by reason of convenient train services, is able to draw its pupils not only from, the town itself, but from a large area of the surrounding country. This institution shows an increase in the Technical High School of 77 pupils—namely, from 339 to 416 ; and in the evening classes of 105 pupils, the numbers increasing from 478 to 583. In spite of difficulties of illplanned buildings and restricted site, a fine tone was noticed in the school ; and, while it must be admitted that the students generally were less responsive than in more northern schools, there was plenty of evidence of very good work being done in nearly all branches. Experiments were made in this school, as also in the Feilding, Wellington, and other schools, with the Dalton laboratory plan of organizing school-work. The experiments were not completed last year, but it was evident that the system was not without substantial advantages, provided that the difficulties of its application could be overcome on the present staffing basis. Retirement of Mr. E. C. Isaac, late Inspector of Technical Schools. Mr. E. C. Isaac, for some twenty years Inspector of Technical Schools, retired on superannuation at the beginning of 1923, having reached the age of sixty-five years. He was practically in charge of the educational side of the work from its inception in this Dominion, and to him more than to any other man it owes its growth and present form. His real culture, his burning enthusiasm, his great skill in handicrafts, and his knowledge of several branches of technology fitted him exceptionally well for the task of infusing life into the work of technical schools and manual-training centres. I accompanied him on his last round of inspection, and I can testify to the warmth of affection with which every school staff bade him farewell as an official, and hoped to be visited by him. again as an old friend. I have, &c, W. S. La Trobe, The Director of Education, Wellington. Superintendent of Technical Education.

3. DETAILED TABLES KELATING TO TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION.

Table J1. —Some Particulars relating to Technical Education for the Years 1915-1922 inclusive.

3—E. 5

1915. 1916. 1917. 1018. 1919. 1920. 1921. 1922. dumber of centres at which classes were held dumber of technical high schools dumber of students — (a.) Technical high schools (6.) Other classes dumber of free pupils at (a) and (b) above dumber of students attending under compulsory regulations 168 151 154 131 110 121 94 66 8 8 8 8 8 9 13 13 1,955 18,247 5,600 2,105 17,586 5,975 2,347 18,400 6,127 2,747 16,910 6,715 2,926 17,950 7,242 2,766 18,628 6,542 3,349 16,832 6,975 4,202 12,262 8,384 858 1,219 1,334 1,324 1,372 1,636 1,585 324 total expenditure by Government for financial year Including— Capitation — (a.) Technical high schools.. (b.) Other classes. . (c.) Salaries and allowances, &o. Grants for buildings and equipment Subsidies on voluntary contributions Conveyance of (a) Instructors (b) Students .. £ 72,089 £ 84,931 £ 100,199 £ 85,335 £ 132,245 £ 169,530 £ 244,627 £ 207,628 19,309 30,729 25,934 38,922 35,795 44,021 33,150 33,119 47,343 47,858 29,818"] 31,918 ;- 20,589J 119,464 119,289 7,877 6,614 6,898 5,773 13,319 67,217 101,198 66,308 5,323 4,206 2,154 1,673 6,934 5,466 3,991 4,207 1,018 2,659 790 2,596 261 2,982 464 3,312 615 3,852 635 3,767 679 4,386 808 4,742