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APPENDIX B.

REPORTS (ABRIDGED) AND STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

I. REPORTS. AUCKLAND. Sir, — In accordance with the requirements of the Education Act, the Education Board of the District of Auckland has the honour to submit the following report for the year 1928 : — Board.—During the year one change took place in the personnel of the Board, Mr. J. Primrose being elected as member for the West Ward of the Rural Area in place of Mr. J. Patterson. The Board met on the first and third Wednesdays in each month. Twenty-two meetings of the Board were held during the year, with an average attendance of twelve. Executive Committee.—The executive Committee consists of the Chairman (Mr. A. Burns), and Messrs. G. Brownlee, W. J. Campbell, J. P. McPhail, and T. U. Wells. The executive continues to deal with questions of finance in general and urgent matters that arise during the interval between the meetings of the Board. The Executive Committee meets regularly each Friday. During the year fifty-one meetings of the executive were held. Schools.—During the year the following schools were opened : Buckland Road, Huia Valley, Kaniwhaniwha, Kohekohe, Lake Rotoma, Netherby, Ohuka Station, Okaharau, Omokoroa No. 2, Oparaku, Paihia, Paramata Valley, Te Henga, Te Werenga, Waipoua Forest. The following schools were closed : Amodeo Bay No. 1, Awakaponga, Eden Park Model, Falls Camp, Horahora Rapids, Kawau, Marsden Point, Moehau, Nelson Street, Otaikaronga, Rangitoto Island, Rotoehu, Rotopotaka, Tangowahine Valley, Te Rerenga, Wiltsdown. Buildings.—During the year ten new schools were built and twenty-five schools were enlarged. In order to meet the cases of emergency four temporary buildings were erected. Four schools were remodelled. Accommodation.—The Board wishes to acknowledge the grants authorized during the year for the erection of new school buildings, and for the enlargement of existing school buildings which were overcrowded. The Board hopes, however, that the urgent cases which were deferred pending the determining of the new policy concerning post-primary education will be dealt with at an early date. The Board wishes to again emphasize the necessity for the erection of school buddings in a very large number of districts where halls or other privately-owned buildings are still being used for school purposes, especially where the settlements are permanent. In many other cases the buildings are most unsuited for school accommodation. The Board is still experiencing the greatest difficulty in staffing many of the rural schools, owing to the lack of suitable accommodation for the teachers. The Board hopes that in future the Minister will be able to increase the number of grants for the erection of teachers' residences at country schools, particularly in those of Grades 3a and upwards. In the Auckland District very few residences attached to schools are now unoccupied by teachers. The Board has adopted a policy of declining to grant permission to teachers to let residences. Finance.—The income for the year ended 31st December, 1928, totalled £836,312 12s. 7d., and the expenditure £826,607 12s. Bd. District High Schools.—Reports of Inspectors show that most of the secondary departments of district high schools are in a high state of efficiency. The results of the annual examinations of pupils of secondary departments continue to be highly gratifying. At the end of the year seventyone pupils of district high schools obtained full passes in the Matriculation Examination, 273 gained senior free places, five obtained full passes for the whole of the Teachers' D Certificate Examination. The Board again wishes to place on record its appreciation of the good work in the district high schools, due to the efficient staffs and to the interest and guidance given by the Inspectors. The provision for the introduction of commercial education into such schools has been largely availed of. The value of district high schools in rural districts cannot be overestimated, and each year shows an increasing number of children attending them. Junior High Schools.—The three junior high schools in the Auckland District continue to do good work. In the cases of Matamata and Northcote the Board desires to urge that the numbers of members on the Committees be increased by the election of two members by the parents of the pupils. Subsidies.—During the year the School Committees of the Auckland Education District raised approximately £6,000 for the establishment of libraries and for improvements to the school-grounds. The'raising of so large a sum clearly shows the keen interest taken by the Committees and parents in their schools.

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