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A recently published comparison of the cost of elementary education, which, for the reasons just stated, must be taken with reservation, gives the cost of elementary education perjpupil as follows : — £ s. d. England and Wales (1923-24) . . . . . . 11 5 9 Norway (1922) .. .. .. . . 14 14 0 Holland . . .. .. . . . . 12 10 0 United States of America (1921-22) ... . . 12 17 0 Ontario (1924).. .. .. .. .. 13 19 0 British Columbia (1924) . . . . . . 17 19 0 Queensland . . .. . . .. . . 10 19 3 Victoria . . . . . . .. .. 8 16 0 New South Wales . . . . .. .. 14 12 6 Cape Colony (primary and secondary) .. .. 16 13 0 Transvaal (primary and secondary) .. . . 21 4 2 New Zealand (primary) (1926) .. .. .. 13 0 0 These figures are probably sufficiently reliable to show that, while our expenditure on education compares well with that in other countries, New Zealand by no means leads the world in its devotion, to the training of its children. School Buildings. A considerable amount of progress was made during the year in the provision of school buildings, both in country districts and in town and suburban areas, to meet the increase in population, the total amount of the funds allocated by Cabinet from the Education Purposes Loans Account being expended. The policy of replacing rented accommodation has been steadily continued, and special consideration has been given to the erection of small schools in isolated and backblock districts. Among the larger primary schools completed during the year may be mentioned the Napier Street, Milford, and Forest Lake Schools, in the Auckland District; the second portion of the Auckland Training College ; Lower Mangorei, in Taranaki; Roseneath, in Wellington; and Papanui, in Canterbury. The infants' department at Invercargill Middle was rebuilt. Secondary departments were provided at Dargaville, Otorohanga, Methven, and Fairlie. A new secondary school has been built at Takapuna. The Medical and Dental Schools in connection with the Otago University have been completed. Additions to existing schools were made at Avondale y and Kohimarama, Auckland ; Fitzroy, Taranaki; Raetihi, Wanganui; Napier South, Hawke's Bay ; Miramar South, Wellington ; North New Brighton and Beckenham, Canterbury ; Wyndham, Invercargill South; and St. George, Southland. Among works in progress may be mentioned the new Normal School, Auckland ; the New Plymouth Girls' High School hostel; a new school at Rongotea, Wanganui district; the Wellington Boys' College Memorial Hall; a new boys' secondary school at Coutts Street, Kilbirnie; the Marlborough Junior High School; the second wing of the new Christchurch Training College ; additions to the Timaru Boys' High School; and additions to the Waitaki Boys' High School. It has been and still is the policy of the Department to obtain school-sites as far as possible in advance of population, in order to save to the State the very considerable inflation in land-values that invariably follows the publication of proposals to divert railways, &c. Particular attention has been given to the provision of adequate school-sites in the Hutt Valley, Wellington, and the sites now set apart should meet the needs of that district for many years to come. In other growing centres also, notably Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, and Wellington, the Department has acquired sites in anticipation of an early-and considerable increase in settlement. The Department" is continuing' its policy of centralizing schools in localities where the condition of the roads, the location of the existing schools, and other material factors render such a course advisable and economical.