5

E.—l

Taumarunui, New Lynn, Papatoetoe, Ellerslie, Hikurangi, Morrinsville, and Otorohanga, Auckland Education District ; at Mahora, Hawke's Bay ; and at Elmwood, Canterbury. Numerous small works both as regards new schools and additions have also been undertaken. The policy adopted in the previous year of remodelling schools of Grade IIIb and upwards so as to provide a separate room for each teacher on the staff, irrespective of the question as to the total floor-space of the school buildings, has been continued, and there are now comparatively few schools, with the exception of Grade IIIa, where two teachers are compelled to teach in one room. It is hoped that the policy will be extended in the near future to Grade IIIa schools. In numerous other cases a certain amount of remodelling, particularly as regards lighting and ventilation, has been undertaken at the same time as additions to the building have been carried out, and still other schools of an obsolete type have been remodelled with a view to providing improved conditions. Among such schools may be mentioned those of Castlecliff and Manunui, in the Wanganui District ; Westport, Nelson District; Rakaia, Canterbury District; and Otautau, Southland District. The Department has found it impossible, through lack of funds, to carry on during the financial year with its policy of replacing one of the large obsolete city schools in each of the four centres, but it is hoped that this policy will be renewed at least in part during the present year. In certain districts an insistent demand for the provision of open-air class-rooms has been made, and in order to test the relative advantage to children of such classrooms the Department has encouraged their erection in suitable localities. A careful comparison is being instituted with regard to the regularity of attendance, the frequency of sickness, &c., in such open-air schools as compared with the Department's latest type of fresh-air class-room, and by this means it is hoped that it will soon become apparent as to which type is most suited to the conditions of New Zealand and in which localities open-air schools should be erected. In accordance with the Department's policy of recent years, school-sites have been obtained, particularly in suburban areas, in advance of settlement. Although the cost of purchase of such sites has been a considerable drain on the funds allocated for the financial year, it would have been very much larger had the Department delayed purchasing until after the sites had been built on. Moreover, the Department has had access to subdivision plans, and has thus been enabled to secure in advance sites centrally situated for the future school population. The establishment of commercial classes in district high schools and the difficulty of placing young people in suitable positions owing to the present unemployment have resulted in a marked increase in the attendance in secondary departments of district high schools, with the result that increased accommodation in a number of these schools was the subject of careful consideration during the financial year. The following table shows for the year ending 31st March, 1929, the amount expended by the Department on new buildings, additions, sites, "and teachers' residences : — £ Primary schools .. .. .. .. .. 247,348 Secondary schools . . . . . . . . 44,382 Technical schools .. .. .. .. 23,281 Training colleges. . .. .. .. . . 2,223 Universities . . . . . . . . . . 1,564 Native schools .. . . .. .. . . 6,044 Special schools .. .. .. .. .. 12,277 Eree kindergartens . . . . . . . . 967 Massey Agricultural College .. .. .. 32,546 Canterbury Agricultural College . . .. . . 4,650 Total .. .. .. .. £375,282