E.—s

Manual-training Centres. —There were four new centres opened in 1925, two under the Auckland Education Board, one under the Wellington Education Board, and one under the Nelson Education Board. The different districts give varying amounts of attention to this subject of manual training. In Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, and Otago a large number of Grade 111 schools are not given the chance of attending, possibly on account of difficulties of transport, but the following figures are instructive : — Percentage of Schools above District. Grade II sending Pupils to Classes at Manual-training Centres. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 50-6 Taranaki .. .. . . . . .. .. . . 51-0 Wanganui .. .. . . . . .. .. . . 30-2 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. .. .. 25-3 Wellington .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 55-4 Nelson . . . . .. .. . . .. 71-7 Canterbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71-1 Otago .. . . .. .. . . .. .. 32-0 Southland .. .. . . .. .. . . .. 98-7 The work varies very much ; it has been well organized in Auckland and Christchurch, and these districts show how much the work can be improved if there is one woman who works with the supervisor and co-ordinates the work of all the centres in that district. The teachers are now working together with good results in Hawke's Bay, Southland, and Otago. I have not yet seen the effect of the common syllabus in Wellington and Taranaki. In Wanganui and Nelson the centres are so scattered that any collaboration is very difficult. The appointment of a needlework supervisor to work in the Christchurch area of the Canterbury Education Board has proved a great success, and it is to be hoped that this provision may be extended to other districts in the near future. I have, &c., Margaret Dyer, The Director of Education, Wellington. Inspector of Home Science.

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